Youre Crazy

Dr. Kevin Conners, Dr.
Kelly Halderman
1 | P a g e U p p e r R o o m We l l n e s s 6 5 1 . 7 3 9 . 1 2 4 8

Youre Crazy!
And other ignorant things doctors
have told patients that need brain
training

Dr. Kevin Conners
Dr. Kevin Conners has earned his Fellowship in Integrative Cancer Therapy, Board Certified in
Integrative Cancer Therapy; Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine,
Board Certified in Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine; American Academy of Anti-
Aging Medicine; currently studying for Certification in Cardiovascular and for Diplomate Status in
Neurology, Carrick Institute as well as the Nutritional Diplomate program; graduated in 1986,
Northwestern Health Sciences University; Fellowship in Health Research Outcomes, National
Institutes of Health; over 100 hours postgraduate study in Autism Spectrum Disorders; practicing
Applied Kinesiologist. He is the author of 7 published books including Stop Fighting Cancer and
Start Treating the Cause, and Help, My Body is Killing Me, and numerous videos available on
Amazon. Dr. Conners frequently lectures to doctors around the world at various seminars.
Personally, Dr. Conners has been married to his high school sweetheart for over 31 years, has five
children and seven grandchildren (and counting).
Dr. Kelly Halderman
Dr. Kelly Halderman is a member of the professional medical staff at the Upper Room Wellness
Center in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. She practices under her Pastoral Medical license,
specializing in treating those with neurological and autoimmune disease. She is certified by the
American Functional Neurology Institute and uses cutting-edge, innovative therapies such as
Neurofeedback in her office. She holds weekly group presentations on Neurofeedback and
lectures all around the state on Lyme disease, as well as a host of other topics such as nutrition
and homeopathy. Dr. Halderman has an extensive healthcare background, as she trained in
Family Practice with the University of Minnesota Family Medicine Residency program after
graduating from traditional medical school in 2007 and is also a graduate of Kingdom College of
Natural Health. She also holds a certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from Cornell and is a graduate
from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Dr. Kevin Conners, Dr. Kelly Halderman

If any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask God, who gives
generously to all without
reproach, and it will be
given him.
-James 1:5

Dedications
Years ago I dedicated myself to Christ. Though I often fail, I am
reminded over and over that He loves me no matter what. Also,
31 years ago, I dedicated myself to a wonderful woman. Without
her love and encouragement I would never be able to accomplish
a work like this as she gives me the time to pursue my passion of
continual study.
Thank you Terri, Ill always love and cherish you!
There is nothing better than knowing that you are living in the light
of His glory and that your eternity is secure, but life this side of
heaven can have its share of complications.
Our practice is dedicated to a calling. Our mission, per say, has
been and will always be molded around helping others with both
lifes complications and coming to experience the reality of the
love of God and His promises for a future.
Praise God that His mercies are new each and every day!


Forward
Maybe its just human nature for a doctor to blame the patient when they have no
answers; Im not quite sure. I do know that Ive heard dozens of patients tell me that
they were written off by their general practitioner and usually told to see a psychiatrist.
Personally, I believe the psychiatric field has its place but to dismiss a person with a dis-
functioning brain and make them feel like they are lying or worse, crazy, is a shame. I
can understand that no one wants to fail and if the patients symptoms dont fall into the
doctors perfect categories, they just have no idea what to do.
Though we will never claim to have all the answers, our promise has always been to
admit our ignorance and devour data to try to find an answer. When I lecture to other
doctors I impress upon them the drive to finish life with few regrets. Professionally, it
would be sad to complete a career in healthcare knowing that you did anything less
than your best to find and solve every patients problem. I believe that any patient
seeking my help was sent by God and it is my responsibility to do my best to figure
them out.
Though Ive been trained in the alternative healthcare field, Im the first to admit that
sometimes the best thing for the patient is appropriately used medication. Unfortunately,
we see far too many individuals seek our care that have had medications that have
seemingly been prescribed simply to shut them up. The, Try this drug, approach has
been disguised as the practice of medicine in an age that preaches evidence-based
care. Doctors have become technicians following manuals written by pharmaceutical
companies. Gone are the Marcus Welbys who used years of accumulated wisdom
mixed with modern day common sense. We have strict practice guidelines that keep
doctors pawns to higher powers in healthcare that generate revenue for corporations
that care little of the individual.
This book is not going to explain everything you need to know about brain-based issues
but it is our hope, above everything else, to give you HOPE. There IS a reason you may
feel like youre going crazy; there IS an explanation for your memory loss, your focus
issues, brain fog, depression and anxiety. Your childs ADD/ADHD is not genetic and
not some strange punishment from God. If you never should walk in our door, please
find some door where a doctor seeks your best, desires to find the cause and is less apt
to blame a label.
Always know that God made you and He loves you! Feel free to contact us for help
professionally or send us your prayer requests:
www.UpperRoomWellness.com www.ClearMindMinnesota.com
Upper Room Wellness Center
1654 County Road E E
Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
651-739-1248

My longings, my hopes, my
dreams, and my every effort has
been to live for Him who rescued
me, to study for Him who gave me
this mind, to serve Him who
fashioned my will, and to speak for
Him who gave me a voice.

! Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: The
Absolute Claims of the Christian Message

Chapter One
Can Anybody Fix ME? Or Am I Just Crazy!

Chapter Two
What IS Normal?

Chapter Three
So whats wrong with ME?

Chapter Four
Treat the PROBLEM at BOTH Fronts

Chapter Five
Neurofeedback A New Approach

Chapter Six
HOME Brain-Based Exercise Workbook

Chapter Seven
The Ultimate Brain-Based Therapy
You are never too
old to set another
goal or to dream a
new dream.
- C. S. Lewis


Introduction
While I made every attempt to make this book as simple as possible, the brain is a
complex organ. I apologize for it becoming a text book at times but honestly, there is
just so much to be said and I get so excited about the possibilities. For the general
public, some parts of this book are going to be really boring and much too technical. Fro
doctors not educated in functional medicine or functional neurology, it may be insightful
and spark a new desire to learn and help the patients no one else can help. For the train
physician, it may be a book to hand out to patients so they may be better able to
understand what you are trying to do.
I originally wrote the beginning of this book several years ago with every intention of
getting the information out to my patients. But, as is often usual in my life, God had
different plans.
My practice is primarily to patients with cancer and severe autoimmune disorders
including many that are mentioned in this book so while I have been doing less and less
brain-based therapy, completing this book appeared less than necessary. But again,
both time and God, change things.
When Dr. Kelly Halderman, an MD trained through the renowned University of
Minnesota Medical system entered our office and shared her personal story, her desire
to help patients at a deeper level, her frustration with standard pharmaceutical-medical
procedures, as well as her love for God and desire to serve Him, we knew it was a fit
from heaven. She has taken functional neurology to the next level in our clinic and
inspired me, with her help, to complete this work.
Again, please forgive the textbook feel at different points and understand that this is a
work in progress as we will continue, as I have in the past with all my other books, offer
them for free online and be updating the downloadable copies as needed.
My deepest desire is that someone is blessed and given new hope by what they read.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin Conners


Chapter One

Can Anybody Fix
ME?

Or am I just CRAZY?
A model for change for ADD/ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Anxiety, Depression,
Panic, Fear, Anger, Bi-Polar, Chronic Fatigue, Chemical Imbalances, Fetal
Alcohol/Drug Syndrome, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers, PTSD, Post
Concussive, Chronic Pain, Mood Disorders, Thyroid and other Hormone
imbalances, Autoimmune disorders, and more.


A model for change for ADD/ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Anxiety, Depression,
Panic, Fear, Anger, Bi-Polar, Chronic Fatigue, Chemical Imbalances, Fetal
Alcohol/Drug Syndrome, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers, PTSD, Post
Concussive, Chronic Pain, Mood Disorders, Thyroid and other Hormone
imbalances, Autoimmune disorders, and more.

Neurobehavioral disorders such as listed above, share many features in common, so
many that I and others who treat patients from a neurological and functional medical
perspective see them as a spectrum or what I call, a circle of one disorder. Honestly, I
am against labeling a patient with a diagnosis; believing that a name given to a
collection of symptoms simply forces one to own the disability, I think it is wiser to teach
the patient to understand why the symptoms are present and help them through the
process of correcting the reason they are there.

In the past we referred to such neurobehavioral disorders as Disabilities, Mood
Disorders or Chemical Imbalances; currently these terms have fallen the way of both
neurological and political incorrectness. Functional Neurologists like to call them
Disconnection Syndromes.

Anxiety, Depression, Panic, Fear, Anger, Bi-Polar, Chronic Fatigue, Chemical
Imbalances and Mood Disorders fit directly into the same mold as Attention Deficit
Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder,

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Aspergers Syndrome, and Autism to name but a few,
and may be viewed as points in a circle of Disconnection Syndromes in which those
points share features in common. The etiologies or causes of these Disconnection
Syndromes share a common bond as well and we might add other brain degenerative
conditions to the mix as well such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and the dementias.

Though we give these disorders separate names and ICD (diagnostic) codes to classify
them for insurance reimbursement and drug clarification, this book will explore their
similarities and the way a functional neurologist may explore the possible solutions.

Though each Disconnection Syndrome may vary as to the part of the brain that is
affected, I like to view these disorders as points on a circle:

ADD/ADHD

PDD-NOS Depression

OCD Anxiety
Bi-Polar

Panic Attacks Brain Paranoia
Disconnect
Aspergers Autism

Addictions Tourette-like

Dementia Loss of Empathy
Anger issues

Chronic pain, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and other issues like post-concussion syndrome
fit into this picture as well and understanding the very simple fact that the brain controls
everything will help to understand.

As the functional medicine and functional neurological community currently understand
the developmental disabilities of this circle, let us explore some specific fundamentals
that will help you understand how you can be helped should you struggle with any brain
imbalance:

1. THERE IS OFTEN AN IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO HEMISPHERES,
THE DIFFERENT BRAIN CENTERS, AND/OR THEIR NEURONAL
CONNECTIONS. The two halves of the brain are referred to as cerebral and
cerebellar hemispheres. These are separated into lobes and gyri with
particular and distinct functions. When we are discussing the circle listed
above, we are mainly talking about the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes,
and their connections to deeper brain centers. For example, there are
common neurological deficits in all the Frontal Lobe disorders even though
patients may still present with different symptoms. The primary problem

relates to the imbalance between both right and left frontal hemispheres
and/or an inability of the frontal lobes to neuronally fire back onto the deeper
brain centers that govern autonomic and emotional function.
Normal (asymptomatic) individuals exhibit an asymmetric distribution of nearly
all human functions within the cerebral cortex including cognitive, motor,
sensory, neuro-hormonal, immune, autonomic, and endocrine functions, i.e.
the left side of the brain controls things that the right does not and visa versa.
Though we now understand that there exists an unbelievable ability of the
brain to take up the slack of an underperforming neighbor, it may not exactly
jump to volunteer for the extra work.
Neuroplasticity is the buzzword in neurology today and speaks to the brains
ability to remold and reshape to necessary needs, but it often takes a little
coaxing. Functional Neurologists like buzzwords; they like big words.
Personally, I like words like neuroplasticity because if you break it down it
explains exactly how God made us with the innate ability to adapt to our
environment and be molded and shaped for the better.
Brain Based Therapy is a method of shaping and molding. Its the little
coaxing we use to re-train the brain around damaged or dysfunctional
centers. Its all about balance. Failure to develop and maintain this balance
of inter-hemispheric (between sides), inter-lobal (between parts), and inter-
glial (speaking of the non-neuronal brain cells we will discuss later)
communication or damage affecting such balance between each center
results in a form of functional independence that creates havoc. I think its
pretty cool that tiny neurons were created to function in symphony with
others, not independently. It is kind of a microcosm of life we are to be
interdependent, interconnected beings, sharing life with others.
Even though the cartoon below is a gross over-simplification of how our
brains work, it gives you an understanding in the importance of proper
balance. We will see that both developmental issues and, more commonly,
environmental issues are most prevalent in causing such imbalances and that
such imbalances are never normal and may be the cause of severe emotional
upsets.

2. MANY CONDITIONS IN THIS CIRCLE OF DISORDERS ARE THE RESULT
OF A RIGHT OR LEFT HEMISHPERE DEFICIENCY. Most Frontal Lobe
syndromes can clearly be related to dysfunction or delay in
development/function of one hemisphere. For example, if the right
hemisphere is under-stimulated resulting in slower temporal processing within
that hemisphere, it decreases effectiveness of the right hemispheres normal
executive functions. Well explain more about this later.
In the case of a right hemisphericity (decreased firing of the right frontal lobe),
there will be a decrease in activity seen in modern functional imaging of the
brain (functional MRI, QEEG) which will show a decreased activity in the right
frontal and pre-frontal cortex with an asymmetric distribution of activity in the
basal ganglia (part of the midbrain) and cerebellum as these are centers that
receive the frontal lobes output.
This right hemisphericity (right hypo-functioning) is possibly the more
common finding and may also explain why young boys are affected more
than young girls as seen in the gross imbalance in ADD/ADHD and autistic
diagnoses. The frequency ranges from approximately 6 to 1 in ADD to 50 to 1
in high functioning autistic individuals because young male brains are more
asymmetrical than young female brains because of hormonal differences.
Male brains are more susceptible to prenatal and postnatal influences; these
influences, which are thought to consist of maternal prenatal levels of
estrogen, create this left greater than right cortical development characteristic
of male brains. It has been hypothesized that abnormal decreases in
dopamine (a brain neurotransmitter) have a greater negative affect on right
frontal cortex function than left due to the asymmetrical distribution of

dopamine receptors in the brain (there are more dopamine receptors in the
right frontal lobe, hence, more susceptible to losses).
As we age, however, this imbalance changes and the effects of puberty on
the female brain swings the pendulum in the opposite direction revealing a
much greater incidence of anxiety, depression, etc. in females.
Regardless of statistical incidences, people with brain imbalances suffer not
only with the symptoms they express but with the ignorance in the medical
community regarding diagnosis and solution. Labels are hurtful, and I hate
them. They do absolutely nothing to help the patient and pharmaceutical
companies are eager to create new diseases to slap on peoples foreheads
so they can be loyal customers the rest of their lives. It is both unethical and
criminal to make people victims of an imagined diagnosis code instead of
searching for a cause so the patient may see real and permanent results.
I refuse to label people so if thats what youre looking for, stop reading this
book now, go crawl in a corner and give up. This book is for those willing to
stand up and say, Hey, Im a person and I deserve a doctor who will help me
get to the bottom of this and help me find a solution!

3. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. Some
main factors in causation of frontal lobe disabilities are hypothesized to be
environmental, especially in the more severely afflicted. Current socially
acceptable behaviors, primarily those which are sedentary, such as a high
proportion of time spent watching television, on the computer or playing video
games (all highly left brain stimulants), are at least a factor for the dramatic
increase in neurobehavioral problems.

The human brain is extremely plastic (moldable, changeable) allowing us to
adapt to the environment in which we live. The window of time for the greatest
development is between conception and the age of six. Motor activities are
critical during this time of brain development, particularly in males. A dramatic
decrease in early motor activity in children will affect development of gross
motor behavior, which is more specific to right hemisphere development,
therefore, decreases in early motor activity equals decrease in right brain
development. In children, the increased use of TV, DVD, computers, iPhones,
and video entertainment coupled with working parents, and parental fears for
their children, all stimulate left-brain growth and lack of right brain stimulation.
Other environmental factors such as poor nutrition, increased poor caloric
intake, environmental toxins, and early sensory deprivation are other
important factors which we will discuss in greater detail later and are really all
we do in our office. This is the functional medicine piece that is absolutely
essential if a patient is going to recover.

4. DEVELOPMENTAL INFLUENCES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM.
Though this has become the minority of cases we currently see, every patient
has need for revisiting developmental stages. Persistent neurological reflexes
that should disappear at specific developmental stages can linger to cause
problems. Years ago I saw more developmental delay issues due in part to
common parenting practices at the time like the use of baby swings,
playpens, Johnny Jump-ups, baby walkers, etc. that would restrict necessary
cross-crawl activity crucial for brain development. Social and cultural
understanding of the detriments of these things has decreased (at least in our
office) the frequency of developmental problems but the sudden rise in
inflammatory causes more than offsets any benefits of our efforts in educating
parents about developmental causes.

5. INFLAMMATORY INFLUENCES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. We will
discuss much about this topic as I cannot recall a single patient in recent
history that did not have some inflammatory source of brain inflammation.
Neurological pathways that are blocked or damaged from an immune attack
or any source of inflammation simply cannot function properly. Thinking that
you will have a healthy brain and be able to eat processed foods, McDonalds
French fries, and a Slurpee just reveal that you may already have brain
problems. Well talk about the destructive problems of GMO foods,
excitotoxins (additives meant to increase taste and cause food addictions and
thereby increase repeat sales), food coloring, preservatives, additives, etc.
Also see my book, Help, My Body is
Killing Me! for more on this topic.

6. TRAUMATIC INFLUENCES
CAUSE FUTURE PROBLEMS. The
Center for Disease Control (CDC) has
now issued major concerns regarding
long-term issues of traumatic brain
injuries. There is also a huge concern
now in the sports world as some data
lists an unbelievable discrepancy in
adult-onset dysfunction in all brain
disorders (Alzheimers, early Dementia,
Parkinsons) with individuals who played contact sports, especially
professional football players. Some studies even reveal a decreased life
expectancy! There are functional changes that occur in how the brain works
but often no structural damage can be seen on standard imaging tests like CT
scan.
Mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, can be defined as a short-lived loss
of brain function due to head trauma that resolves spontaneously but can
have lasting effects. The brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid and is encased in
the skull. These protections help us to withstand many of the minor injuries
that occur in day-to-day life. However, if there is sufficient force to cause the
brain to bounce against the skull, then there is potential for injury. It is the
acceleration and deceleration of the brain against the inside of the skull that
can cause the brain to be irritated and interrupt its function and, more
importantly, sets up a chronic inflammatory process that slowly decreases
function and destroys neurons.
While temporary loss of consciousness due to injury means that a concussion
has taken place, most concussions occur without the patient being knocked
out. Studies of football players find that the most of those affected were not
aware that they had sustained a head injury.
Rabbit's clever," said Pooh
thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's
clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has
Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's
why he never understands
anything.
! A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

7. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE VARIATIONS OF THE SAME
PROBLEM. Most brain disabilities are of similar etiology and are variations of
the same underlying problem. The frontal lobes, temporal lobes, parietal
lobes, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and thalamus have been implicated in all of
these conditions. This has been documented on static imaging such as CT
scans and MRI, as well as functional imaging such as PET scans, QEEG and
fMRI. Bottom line: inflammation in the brain blocks pathways that need to be
re-mapped. The pathways that are damaged equal the symptoms the patient
experiences giving a diagnosis specific to those symptoms.
John was a real estate agent in southern California for over 30 years. He was
looking forward to semi-retirement and being able to spend more of his time
playing golf, which was his passion. A few months ago he noticed a strange
sensation, beginning in his legs that was slowly, over time, creeping upward.
It wasnt pain, he described, it was a weird stiffness; sometimes it was
tingly, other times it was achy, but it got worse every day. John never went to
a doctor, though he complained to his wife who would demand that he make
an appointment. But he was stubborn and, like many men, just pretended it
would be better tomorrow. After about 4 months, Johns stiffness became so
bad that, when at his sons house for a family function, he couldnt get out of a
seated position in the couch. That was the final straw that landed John in the
ER. Ill save some time and skip over most of Johns story and spare you the
miserable months that followed with MRIs, CT scans, X-Rays, etc., and these
after the ER just sent him home with prednisone telling him it was stress.
John was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, early stage, which has yet to
show plaquing. This wasnt the end of his story though because John had a
dream to retire and play golf and his dream was not going to be side-lined by
some crazy disease the he was going to have to learn to live with. He never
gave up asking why and was willing to seek care beyond the confines of
multi-million dollar facilities that offered no hope. The end of his story was a
beginning in a sense because John end up at a Naturopaths office that had
attended a seminar of mine, was referred for a phone consultation. After
much consideration, John and his wife flew in for a complete work-up and we
all learned new and amazing things. John learned that there was hope (hes
nearly completely recovered), I learned that even medications can be
antigens in an autoimmune condition (it was Lipitor in his case), and my staff
learned that a patients drive to fulfill a life-long dream can be an essential
motivating factor to getting better.
Unfortunately, there are millions of people who do not have the insight to see
beyond traditional medicine and believe they have to live with whatever
disease theyve been told they have. We see it every day. Yesterday, one of
my assistants told me about someone at church who was telling her that her
sons absence seizures were coming more frequently and that hes had
multiple grand mal seizures in the past month. The doctors increased his
seizure meds but the meds seem to just, wipe him out. After my assistant
attempted to try to explain that there may be hope looking through a

Functional Neurology and Functional Medicine lens, the woman interrupted
with a, oh no, they found the cause; they said its genetic.
People are people. Somehow a diagnosis seems to emotionally erase the
responsibility of really figuring things out. If we can just blame a disease or a
gene that is outside of our control then we absolve ourselves of any
accountability. Yet the suffering continues. I cannot begin to tell you how
many cancer victims we speak with every day that have been to hell and back
with therapies that have left them mutilated, yet fear, tradition, and peer-
pressure pushed them down a medical path that left them crumbled in a
corner like a dirty rag.
If the only thing you get out of ANY of my books is HOPE, then Ive
succeeded! Find someone near you that understands the thing we write
about. I teach doctors world-wide and we see patients in our office from
around the world yet we are still amazed by the neighbors willing to let their
children suffer a lifetime from a genetic brain problem!
8. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CORRECTABLE. Because brain organization is
plastic (changeable), many aspects of neurobehavioral disorders do not have
to result in permanent impairment (unless left alone). Appropriate forms of
re-mapping (Brain Based Therapy, Neurofeedback) and behavioral
modifications (Neural Cognitive Therapy) can significantly improve or
completely correct the underlying problem. Since motor and cognitive
dysfunction often coexist, improving the function of one effect change in the
other.
Annie, an eight-year-old beauty with long black hair and princess eyes was a
handful. Her parents had three other children, all younger than Annie with two
still in diapers. Im just worn out, confessed her mother, a thirty-something,
dedicated homemaker who was at the end of her rope. Weve tried
everything we know, explained her dad, yesterday the schools counselor
had recommended either you or medication, but said we have to do
something now. Annie had been on medication last year for the ADHD her
pediatrician diagnosed. Like most kids, she did not do well, It just made her
completely groggy, said mom, she had no personality.
Its always nice to see parents at the end of the line because they seem to
be more willing to do the hard things that it takes to get their child better. Its
kind of like that with all patients; if they arent sick enough to make drastic life-
style changes, then they are NOT going to get better. Not that every case
needs dramatic life-style changes but the willingness to do so is crucial. I
once had a family with a teen-ager who was in juvenile detention, soon to be
in prison that absolutely refused to remove gluten from their diet because,
pizza was his favorite food. Just shoot me now!
Praise God that Annies parents were committed. They could see beyond
immediate gratification to the hope of recovery. Maybe that is the sign of a

healthy brain one who can put-off immediate satisfaction for a future,
attainable goal. Annies a different person today because her parents had a
healthy brain. Yes, we needed to change her diet, detox heavy metals and
teach her brain-based exercises to do at home and yes, the results were both
dramatic and gradual but she is now in high school getting excellent grades.
Functional Neurology and Functional Medicine offer us intervention strategies
including Advanced Neurofeedback, home Brain-Based therapy, functional
testing, kinesiology, and other labs that can both reveal true, underlining
causes and show marked positive effects and objective changes in a
relatively short period of time. Using the newer therapies we suggest in this
book, most of our patients now notice significant changes in months as
opposed to years (or never).
9. HEMISPHERE SPECIFIC TREATMENT AND INFLAMMATORY CAUSE
IDENTIFICATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. Besides increasing motor
performance, timing, endurance, and posture, we will finally address the need
for hemisphere specific treatment modalities. Brain Based Therapy, sensory
stimulation, and cognitive functions directed toward the under functioning
hemisphere are the most important consideration in treatment. Achieving a
balance of activity between the two hemispheres is critical for allowing
cognitive and bilateral motor binding to occur, which would reduce
hemispheric neglect (hypofunction). As the hemispheres achieve a normal
coherence and synchronization, motor and cognitive performance will
improve. Below is the ONLY way that we believe one will achieve lasting
results:
A. Determine the specific brain gyrus that is NOT firing correctly. This is done
through a detailed neurological examination and a Brain Map using a
functional electroencephalogram (EEG). Our Neural Integration software
system lays out a detailed explanation of improper brain function.

B. Determine the CAUSE. Most common causes are inflammatory processes
from toxicity, autoimmune inflammation, or trauma. The patient is
experiencing an EFFECT. If they ever expect to recover from the effect, the
cause must be discovered and removed.

C. Determine a plan of attack to REMOVE the cause. Treatment is
appropriate to the cause.
D. Develop specific Brain-Based Therapies that RE-WIRE the brain pathways
that were damaged.
This above approach seems simple, and, though it is working wonders to prove that
people are NOT crazy, it requires that your doctor or doctors are aptly trained in
functional neurology and functional medicine. I certainly dont consider myself an expert
as I am always learning (maybe addicted is a better term) but, as the title of this book
state, regardless of what your previous doctors have told you, there IS an answer.
There are REAL causes to problems that require solutions not found in a new
prescription or another label. It is true that you will not find the therapies we suggest
referenced by pharmaceutical companies but NOT true that what we do and suggest for
patients doesnt work or has little validation. Functional EEGs (one of our primary
therapies) have MORE positive research data and proven clinical trials than any drug on
the market! The problem is that there is no money to be made by Big Pharma! I hate to
be cynical but its both sad and true.
For more research, see our site: www.ClearMindMinnesota.com


Chapter Two

What IS Normal?

I didn't want normal until I didn't have it anymore

" Maggie Stiefvater, Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception


BRAIN FUNCTION OVERVIEW (in general)

Left Brain
Analytical, judgmental; more in-the-box thinking
Works with familiar information anything new/novel fires the right brain first,
then it becomes a left brain function
Language fluency (speaking and reading)
Brocas and Wiernickis areas of left temporal lobe
Math skills that are more linear 2 + 2; whereas word problems are more right
brain
Enjoying your surroundings
Processing information from detailed facts
Repetition and systems
Happy brain
Dull/monotone voice
What function (What shape is this object?)
Causes action: goes and gets

Right Brain
Creative and emotional
Works with new information
Nonverbal communication (body language and facial expressions)
Social skills
Drawing/art
Reading comprehension
Humor
Gross motor skills
Where function
Causes withdrawal and regeneration
Rhythmic voice

Temporal Lobe
Memory (hippocampus): long term = inferior lobe; short term = superior lobe
Speech
Verbal communication
Auditory attentiveness
Understanding of sound and music

Occipital Lobe
Vision

Parietal Lobe
Hand motor control
Processes sensory information from the environment


Frontal Lobe
Sense of self, ego, personality
Ability to focus and not be impulsive (ADD, ADHD)

PMRF (PontoMedullary Reticular Formation)
Function of cardio-respiratory center
Maintains global muscle tone and upright posture in gravity

Cerebellum
Sensory and motor processing station
Receives input from all other brain regions
Sends sensory input from the body to all other brain regions
Determines smoothness of movement and thought
Maintains tone of spinal muscles
Posture, balance, coordination

Mesencephalon (upper brain stem)
Its function is controlled by the other brain areas (frontal, parietal, cerebellum)
If these areas are fatigued, the mesencephalon overfires, causing
Chronic pain
Migraines
Racing heart
Jaw tension
Irritable bowel
Insomnia
Other symptoms often found in chronic conditions

Brain Development

Oh, the sheer excitement of the above title. My neurology professor (30 years ago) was
a terrible teacher and I never learned a thing about the brain. It would be decades later
that I was introduced to Professor Carrick and life changed. I discovered that human
behavior, though governed by choice, is shaped largely by the intricate function of a few
pounds of fatty tissue encased in relatively thin bone. Its amazing really; humans who
build skyscrapers that touch the clouds, engineer moon landings, cage giant animals
ten times their size, and rule the world have not enough bodily hair to keep from
freezing to death on a cold night, no claws sufficient for gathering enough food for the
day, teeth too small to rip through an animal should carrion be found nor skin thick
enough to able to defend even an attack from a large group of mice. No, we were
created to use our brains.

Most neurological texts would dive into evolutionary theories on how fish brains lack a
neocortex and as we evolved from slime we simply decided to grow neuronal
hemispheres capable of reason. It takes at least as much faith to believe that as it does
to believe there is a grand weaver who has a sovereign plan. If you want to get
technical about it, thousands of years ago, humans had bigger brains. That conclusion

was reached after researchers showed that ancient human skulls from Europe, the
Middle East and Asia had an average brain capacity of 1500 cubic centimeters,
compared to todays 1359 cc.

The old skulls tested were almost certainly
post-Flood, hence at most a few thousand
years old by biblical reckoning, and only
tens of thousands of years old in evolutionary
belief. If the result had shown that todays
brains are bigger, this would no doubt have
been interpreted by evolutionists as humans
evolving more smarts. But this outcome has
caused a quiet surprisenot just for being
contrary to evolutionary expectations, but
because of the extent and speed of change.
John Hawks of the University of Michigan
called it a major downsize in an evolutionary
eye-blink. That said, I will do my best to
make this section readable and keep you
from falling asleep because even though the
facts may be dry, understanding them
explains much about problem behavior.

Over the centuries scientists have argued two
dominate views on human development.
They proposed that children either came into
the world genetically pre-programmed
(nature) or that they were a blank slate on
which their environment shaped their
development (nurture). Lately, the debate
over nature vs. nurture is fading as scientists
now are investigating the complex ways in
which genes and environment interact in part
due to the completion of the human genome
project that exposed the failure of the
genetically preconditioned camp. It turns out
that we have fewer genes than expected far fewer! It is genetics that we can blame
all our problems on, its epigenetics (what our environment does to affect the genes).
Current brain science understands that both nature and nurture shape brain
development, and that each set of influences is dominant to varying degrees at various
points in time.

Before birth, nature is the primary actor in brain development. We certainly cannot
dismiss the effect of environment as any parent of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome child
would attest, but the pre-programmed genetic map runs the show at this stage.
According to Dr. Pasco Rakic, a professor of neuroscience at Yale University, The
number of neurons and the way that they are organized is determined by heredity. We
know that during the third week of pregnancy, a thin layer of cells in the developing
I consider that a man's brain
originally is like a little empty attic,
and you have to stock it with such
furniture as you choose. A fool
takes in all the lumber of every sort
that he comes across, so that the
knowledge which might be useful to
him gets crowded out, or at best is
jumbled up with a lot of other
things, so that he has a difficulty in
laying his hands upon it. Now the
skillful workman is very careful
indeed as to what he takes into his
brain-attic. He will have nothing
but the tools which may help him in
doing his work, but of these he has
a large assortment, and all in the
most perfect order. It is a mistake
to think that that little room has
elastic walls and can distend to any
extent. Depend upon it there comes
a time when for every addition of
knowledge you forget something
that you knew before. It is of the
highest importance, therefore, not
to have useless facts elbowing out
the useful ones.
! Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in
Scarlet

embryo folds inward to create a fluid-filled cylinder called the neural tube. (Berk, 1994,
p. 99). It is in the neural tube where the production of neurons, the brain cells that store
and transmit information, begins at the rate of 250,000 per minute (Nash, 1997, p. 52).
Here is where environmental toxicity may interrupt genetic processes.

By the end of the second trimester, the process of producing neurons is essentially
completed. It was once believed that no more neurons would ever be produced again in
an individuals lifetime a topic now hotly debated. Some neurons are programmed for
specific functions such as breathing, controlling the heartbeat, regulating body
temperatures, or producing reflexes all depending on the pathways on which they are
created. But, for the most part, neurons are not designated to perform specific tasks,
and thus brain development is not complete at this point. Think of neurons as highways
on which communication travels.

Brain development is "stimulus-dependent," meaning that the electrical activity in every
circuitsensory, motor, emotional, and cognitive--shapes the way that circuit gets
wired. Similar to computer circuits, neural circuits process information through the flow
of energy (electricity). Unlike computer circuits, however, the circuits in our brains are
not fixed structures. Every experience--whether it is seeing one's first rainbow, riding a
bicycle, reading a book, sharing a joke--excites certain neural circuits and leaves others
inactive. Those that are consistently turned on over time will be strengthened, while
those that are rarely excited may be dropped away. This is neuroplasticity and it is both
good and bad. If my first experience with the world was an inattentive parent who
neglected me, I may experience adult behavioral issues with getting needs met. We
neurologically tie connections to feelings, experiences, events, object identification,
color, sound, and every conceivable stimulus.

What functional neurologists say, "Cells that fire together, wire together," meaning
connections are made, not hard-wired. The elimination of unused neural circuits, also
referred to as "pruning," may sound harsh, but it is generally a good thing. It streamlines
children's neural processing; making the remaining circuits work more quickly and
efficiently. Without synaptic pruning, children wouldn't be able to walk, talk, or even see
properly. But it goes both ways. If a two-year-old is never taught social behavior skills,
pathways of normal behavior far outreach cultural acceptance. Also, abused or
neglected children create pathways of worthlessness that become superhighways easily
traveled throughout life. This is the neural connection to sins of the father carrying out
to the third and fourth generation. The cycle must be broken.

At any stage of development, other environmental toxins including maternal
malnutrition, substance abuse (including alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs, and use of
prescription and over-the-counter medications), exposure to chemicals or radiation,
vaccinations, pathogens (like Lyme and other bacteria) and viral infections (such as
measles) can lead to adverse effects on the developing brain. It goes without saying
then that even the most loving parents; living in the fallen world which is inescapable
with its chemical, EMFs, and destroyed food supplies (GMOs, additives, pesticides,
herbicides!) can have children with brain issues. Its NOT about blame; its about
recognition and correction!


While newborns are born with a full set of neurons, the most important part of brain
development begins after birth - the wiring phase. Following birth, each of the brains
100 billion neurons creates links to thousands of others (Nash, 1997, p. 53). This
process is accomplished as neurons produce a web of wire-like fibers called axons
(which transmit signals) and dendrites (which receive signals). Once axons make their
first connections, the nerves begin to fire (Nash, 1997, p. 53). It is at this point that the
environment begins to take over in the process of brain development. Scientists often
describe this stage as the equivalent of creating telephone trunk lines between the right
neighborhoods in the right cities. At this point in development, the brain has to sort out
which wires belong to which house (Nash, 1997, p. 53). It is with these maps that
learning will take place (Carnegie, 1994).

The most important factor in this process of developing connections is stimulation, or
repeated experience. Scientists now know that in the months after birth the number of
synapses increases from 50 trillion to 1,000 trillion (Carnegie, 1994). Neurons that are
stimulated by input from the surrounding environment continue to establish new
synapses. Those that are seldom stimulated soon die off.

According to Dr. Harry Chugani, a professor of pediatric neurology at Wayne State
University, .Its like a highway system. Roads with the most traffic get widened. The
ones that are rarely used fall into disrepair. (Nash, 1997, p. 26).

Its not black and white, its GREY and WHITE

The nervous system is divided into components based on location: the central nervous
system and the peripheral nervous system; as well as function: the volitional system
and the autonomic system. Then there are other divisions; the autonomic is divided into
the sympathetic and parasympathetic based on opposing functions. The central nervous
system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is then divided wholly
into grey and white matter. Scientists are very left-brained and enjoy memorizing
systems and names and big words that make you sound really smart.

Grey matter (say substantia grisea its Latin for grey matter and makes you feel like
you know what youre talking about when you say it), is the part of the brain that is
made up of nerve cell bodies and the majority of the true dendrites (numerous, short,
branching filaments that carry impulses towards the cell body). Grey matter has no
myelin blanket; it is simply the collection of cell bodies.

The real processing is conducted in the grey matter. It was given the name gray
because, wait for it its grey. Neurons create networks, in which nerve signals travel
and though we speak of connections, they do not make contact with each other when
conveying messages, but do so through sending chemicals across a gap called a
synapse. The chemicals called neurotransmitters serve as the medium to connect one
neuron to another neuron. The senses of the body (speech, hearing, feelings, seeing
and memory) and control of the muscles, are part of the grey matters function.

The white matter, also known as substantia alba (no, not Jessica Albas daughter
though that would have been my first pick), is a neuron that is made up of extending,

myelinated nerve fibers, or axons. It composes the structures at the center of the brain,
like the thalamus and the hypothalamus. It is found between the brainstem and the
cerebellum, between the neocortex (newer brain centers) and lower brain. It is the white
matter that allows communication to and from grey matter (nerve cell) areas. It functions
by transmitting the information from the different parts of the body towards the cerebral
cortex; the white matter is the axons. It also controls the functions that the body is
unaware of, like temperature, blood pressure and the heart rate. Dispensing of
hormones and the control of food, as well as the
intake of water and the exposition of emotions,
are additional functions of the white matter.
Communication along these fibers reaches a
speed of 2-300 miles per hour (remember this for
the quiz).

Because of the evidence emerging on synaptic
development, scientists believe that appropriate
stimulation of the childs brain is critically
important during periods in which the formation of
synapses is at its peak (Berk, 1994). It is during
these critical periods, or windows of opportunity
that exist for different brain functions, when a
childs experiences can make the most
difference. And, for some areas, if the
connections between neurons are not developed
during these critical periods, they will never
develop at all.

Nutrition is so important in every stage but crucial in the early years. The average
Western diet has changed dramatically such that humans today consume a much
higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acids relative to omega-3 fatty acids than ever
before. The importance of omega-3 fatty acids in human development has been well
established in fetal and neonatal development, with brain and retinal tissues highly
dependent on omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for
membrane fluidity and signal transduction. In childhood, omega-3s have been shown to
contribute to ongoing cognitive development so supplementation with DHA is highly
recommended. (Carlson, 2013)

This is why Ive always said that a fat-free diet is the most dangerous diet known to
man. Did you know that there is a phenomenon known as rabbit starvation? Yes, it is
described by observing settlers that ate nothing more than rabbits, which were in
abundance, and filled their bellies, yet died of starvation. The lack of fat in rabbit meat
(tastes like chicken) was the killer. You NEED fat; pregnant mothers and children need
fat even more (eat coconut oil). There, now you cant say that you didnt learn a thing
from this book!

One area of brain development that has received much attention in determining its
critical period is vision. It has been found that the synapses associated with vision
But when you're in front of an
audience and you make them laugh
at a new idea, you're guiding the
whole being for the moment. No
one is ever more him/herself than
when they really laugh. Their
defenses are down. It's very Zen-
like, that moment. They are
completely open, completely
themselves when that message hits
the brain and the laugh begins.
That's when new ideas can be
implanted. If a new idea slips in at
that moment, it has a chance to
grow.
! George Carlin, Last Words

multiply quickly in 2- to 4-montholds and keep increasing until around 8 months (Jabs,
1996, p. 25). At 8 months, each neuron is connected to 15,000 other neurons (Begley,
1996, p. 56). This rate makes sense when we realize that infants have limited motor
skills and spend much waking time watching the world around them. Yet researchers
have found that a baby whose eyes are clouded by cataracts from birth will, despite
cataract removal surgery at the age of 2, be forever blind. This finding indicates that the
window of opportunity for vision does not stay open for a long period of time.

Other deficiencies have been well established as to the detrimental effects on the brain
but a recent rat study revealed that EMF exposure from cellphones significantly
damages cells in the brain. Widespread use of mobile phones which are a major
source of electromagnetic fields might affect living organisms, the study states. Two
groups of pregnant rats, a control group and an experimental group that were exposed
to an electromagnetic field were used. For obtaining electromagnetic field offspring, the
pregnant rats were exposed to 900 megahertz electromagnetic fields during the 119th
gestation days. There were no actions performed on the control group during the same
period. It was found that 900 megahertz (typical cellphone EMF) of electromagnetic field
significantly reduced the total pyramidal cell number (the area of brain dissected) in the
brains of the rats exposed to the electromagnetic field. (O Bas)

Fetal alcohol syndromes (FAS) as well as fetal drug exposure are conditions that result
from alcohol and drug exposure during pregnancy. Problems that may be caused by
exposing the developing brain to such chemicals include physical deformities, mental
retardation, learning disorders, vision difficulties and behavioral problems. The problems
vary from child to child, but defects caused by chemicals can sometimes be irreversible
as brain centers can completely be obliterated. There is no amount of drug (even OTC),
tobacco, alcohol, vaccination that's known to be safe to consume during pregnancy. If
you drink during pregnancy, you place your baby at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
(Mayo)

Does this research mean that it ever becomes too late to make a difference in the brain
development? Bite your tongue! God made us plastic, moldable, changeable, so even
damage done at early, important stages can, with proper assistance, change and re-
mold. Researchers have found that the brain during the first years of life is very
malleable, citing instances in which very young children who suffer strokes or injuries
that wipe out an entire brain hemisphere still mature into highly functioning adults
(Nash, 1997, p. 54). Children have also been found to overcome emotional and physical
abuse suffered during the first year, presumably because of plasticity, or the ability to
rewire damaged brain areas.

It is also important for parents not to push children during this period and provide too
much stimulation. This is why Im against attempting to make your child a prodigy with
Baby Einstein-type educational toys that over-stimulate the left frontal lobe. Parents who
try to rush children through the necessary stages of development are asking children to
function with capacities that may not be ready to be used (Jabs, 1996, p. 25). In
addition, if parents try to push children, they may form connections between certain
activities and stress. Parents who try to force a child to complete a puzzle before he or

she is developmentally ready may decrease the childs disposition to do the puzzle or
engage in related activities because of the stress connection.

With few exceptions, (vision as perhaps one notable exception) the windows of
opportunity in brain development do not close abruptly. What research findings do
indicate are the importance of helping children develop a sound foundation in early
learning, so that they have the building blocks for a lifetime of learning.

A study published in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science shows that social
interaction during a critical period of early life has irreversible effects on maturation of
connections to the frontal lobes of the brain, disrupting social interactions and cognitive
ability into adulthood. Children suffering severe neglect are known to have cognitive
dysfunctions and impairments in social interaction as adults, but the mechanisms were
not understood.

Situated behind the forehead, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for complex analysis,
abstract thought, motivation, and controlling socially correct behaviors. Interestingly,
connections from other brain regions to the prefrontal cortex are not fully developed until
the early twenties.


There has long been speculation as to the development of behaviors attributed
to frontal lobe functioning in children. Problem behaviors attributed to frontal lobe
dysfunction are evident yet controversies as to whether it is because of ill-development
or a lesion (damage due to trauma, toxins, inflammation) continue to arise. (Passler) .A
team led by neurobiologist Gabriel Corfas at the Children's Hospital in Boston reared
mice in isolated cages for two weeks after they were weaned from their mothers. When
these animals reached adulthood, the nerve fibers (axons) connecting to the prefrontal
cortex had a thinner coating of electrical insulation (myelin) than in mice reared in
standard cages (in community, with their mothers).

Myelin insulation, wrapped around axons like electrical tape, greatly increases the
transmission speed of nerve impulses. Slower transmission of information to the frontal
cortex could degrade performance of this critical brain region. Indeed, behavioral
experiments showed that these animals had poor working memory and impaired social
interaction as adults.

Real world: Anything that causes a decrease in firing of cortical centers leads to
dysfunction! This includes developmental delays due to everything from nutrition to lack
of love. But this is important we are NOT just talking about children! Every second of
your life your brain requires stimulation; if you dont use it, you lose it. Period;
exclamation point. Poor use of grammar I know, but I want you to get his point.

"Mice are normally interactive socially and tend to be gregarious and investigative, and
in some cases also aggressive among themselves, but these mice [reared in isolation]
tend to avoid interacting with animals that are placed into their same cage," Corfas
says. It is all because of poor formation of prefrontal connections. It is well documented
that disruptions in social interactions in humans are associated with many psychiatric
disorders. Worse, the researchers found that reintroducing mice into a normal social
environment after the two-week period of isolation did not restore normal myelination or
improve performance on tests of memory and social behavior as adults. Moreover,
social isolation later in life did not have the same effects as social isolation immediately
after weaning. It takes much more brain-training to recover what is lost in critical
periods of development.

This shows that there is a sensitive period in early life when social interactions are
necessary for normal myelination of axons to the prefrontal cortex. "The findings make
sense and are consistent with what we've observed in clinical studies on effects of early
stress on the brain," says Martin Teicher, a neuroscientist in the Department of
Psychiatry at Harvard University.

Using MRI brain imaging, Teicher and his colleagues have found that early life stresses,
including childhood sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and experiencing
verbal abuse from parents or peers, affect the structure of the prefrontal cortex and
disrupt fiber connections to this and other brain regions. Many alterations in brain tissue
could produce the differences seen by MRI in children suffering neglect, but by
removing the tissue and examining it under an electron microscope, Corfas and
colleagues were able to prove that indeed myelin was thinner on these axons in socially
isolated mice. "This is the first study to show that it is enough to change myelin to

produce the behavioral effects that you would expect to be caused by isolation," Corfas
says.

The Prefrontal Cortex

In order to explain this important part of your brain that sits directly in back of your
forehead I need to tell you about the Disney movie UP, Adolph Hitler, a Roman General,
and my dog Lady. For those of you who have not seen Pixars UP, you now have some
homework because the humorous observation of the dogs in this animated blockbuster
give real insight into the prefrontal cortex.

In the story, balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen and his energetic wife Ellie live a
wonderful life with dreams of adventure that always seems beyond financial reach. After
Ellies death, Carl grows quiet and confined until meeting 8-year-old Wilderness
Explorer Russell who is eager to get his helping the elderly pin. Without retelling the
entire story, this unlikely duo travel to a faraway land and meet the antagonist as well as
new friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, a
rare 13-foot tall flightless bird (but a very nice bird, as all Kevins are).

Before you start thinking that I have ulterior motives for having children, there is a great
lesson in the storys antagonists (famed explorer/inventor Charles Muntz) dogs. Fitted
with their talking collars, the dogs
pursue the pair to capture their new
friend, the exotic bird Kevin. In doing so we
see the truth about dogs they have a
very small prefrontal cortex, as Im sure you
were thinking as well when you watched the
movie.

Once, when capture seemed inevitable and the adventure doomed to failure as the
talking dogs were at the verge of victory, Russell ingeniously distracted the animals
from their goal by shouting, Squirrel! The prefrontal cortex is necessary to stay on
task, remain focused on intention and block out distractive issues. Humans should have
no problem with focus, dogs do. No matter how obedient to their evil master the dogs
desired to be, dog are dogs and dogs chase squirrels.

The prefrontal cortex allows attention on intention; it is the schoolmaster keeping the
students on task and without it there would be chaos directly proportional to the lesion.
It is primarily responsible for regulating behavior, mediating conflicting thoughts, making
choices between right and wrong, and predicting the probable outcomes of actions or
events. It governs social control, such as suppressing emotional or sexual urges. Since
the prefrontal cortex is the brain center responsible for receiving data from the world
and deciding on actions, it is most strongly implicated in human qualities like
consciousness, general intelligence, and personality. It is what makes us unique as
humans the size of our prefrontal cortex.

It was the summer of 1941, the plan was simple, but Hitler was alone in his thinking that
it would be simple to perform. Given the size of Russia, the German army would be
Every man can, if he so desires,
become the sculptor of his own
brain
! Santiago Ramn y Cajal

divided into 3 groups. Army Group North would advance through the Baltic States
towards Leningrad, Army Group South would move into the Ukraine and then the
Caucasus to take the wheat and oil fields of Russia, and Army Group Center would
advance through White Russia towards Moscow.

Germany had already conquered most of Europe and the Fuhrers success following his
planned Blitzkrieg was unprecedented. He thought Germany was unbeatable and he
trusted his track record over wise counsel. This obstinacy became the cause of many
heated debates between Hitler and his Generals and proved disastrous for "Operation
Barbarossa," the attack on Russia. When a country goes to war, it is only sensible that
the Government and the Military have already determined the enemy's "Center of
Gravity", and have already planned on how to neutralize it. The enemy's "Center of
Gravity" can be their armed forces, their capital, a powerful ally, etc.

Hitler and his Generals disagreed from the start about what Russia's "Center of Gravity"
was. The Generals thought it was Moscow, while Hitler thought it was Ukraine and the
Oil fields of the Caucasus. Hitler's reasoning, if it can be called that, was based on
history. Napoleon had taken Moscow, but the Russians had not given in, and in the end
Napoleon had to retreat, with disastrous results for his Empire. Hitler was determined
not to repeat that mistake; he was going to head south, take the Ukraine and the Oil
fields, and deny the Russians the resources he felt they needed to continue the war.

His Generals could not have disagreed more. They argued that Russia was so vast, and
capable of replacing whole armies, that only the capture of Moscow would destroy the
Soviet Regime. They argued that Moscow was the political and logistical hub of
European Russia, and if it was taken, the Russians would not be able to continue the
war west of the Urals. A simple glance at any world atlas will indeed show that in
Western Russia, "all roads lead to Moscow."

The Generals reasoning was that since most of Russia's population, resources and
industry were located west of the Urals, even if the Russians elected to fight on, it would
be a lost cause. Finally, they argued that Stalin was so feared and despised, (nearly a
million citizens took up arms against Russias military) that if the Red Army was
destroyed, and Moscow taken, the people would overthrow him and welcome
Germanys rule.

Hitler was a ruthless dictator, and therefore had the last word; in this case he was
absolutely wrong. The attempt to seize of Ukraine in 1941 was blind optimism, born out
of pride in the heart of a deranged tyrant. Even if the Germans had taken Ukraine and
all of the oilfields, the Soviet Regime would still be intact and worse, given the still
considerable Russian armies to the north and the long lines of communications the
Germans would have in the south, the Russians could have possibly cut off the German
army in southern Russia as they actually did in late 1942.

What does this have to do with the prefrontal cortex? Recent research on why we do
what we do has concentrated on decision making. There appears to be a dichotomy in
cognitive neuroscience between reflective versus reflexive decision making. Reflective,
goal-oriented, or what has been termed model-based thinking is now been shown to be

a right prefrontal function. This means if I have greater left-brain dominance, I will be
more prone to habitual, less reasoned, or what is known as model-free decisions.
Right-brain dominant people base decisions more on perspective thought, weighing
consequences, and seeing possible outcomes. Left-brain dominant individuals make
choices more on what was done in the past, patterns that are common, and the way
Ive always done it. It goes without saying that evil dictators have brain problems but I
think most have two severe (very severe) lesions: right dorsolateral and right anterior
cingulate damage.

A study published in Neuron in October, 2013 showed that disrupting the right
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex impaired flexible model-based choices, driving behavior
toward simpler, model-free (habitual) control. Blind pride may have more of a
neurobiological cause than previously believed. Damage to prefrontal brain structures
has been documented in psychopathic criminals as well.

These studies show that human choice behavior often reflects a competition between
inflexible computationally efficient control (from the left brain) and a slower more flexible
system based on weighing factors and consequences (the right brain) on the other. One
can see that BOTH are necessary for optimal performance in a complex world. A
commander of armed forces, a CEO of a major company and a parent of small children
need healthy functioning frontal lobes to both make quick decisions based on past
experience and slower, more carefully thought out choices based upon reason.

There are times we all need reflexive, non-emotional decision-making that will be
efficient and give us a good chance that the outcome will be similar to past outcomes
based on similar circumstances and there are other times where being able to imagine
all sides of either ruling will guide us to the best selection. Imbalance is not healthy.

Would World War II have had a different outcome had Hitler had a more balanced
brain? Well, yes, it wouldnt ever have started had Hitler had a healthy prefrontal cortex.
We could write an entire book on his traumatic childhood, his mothers death of cancer,
and his brain problems and conditioning but it suffices to say that one could explain all
ill-behavior, no matter if demonic or innocent as having at least part of its origin in the
prefrontal cortex.

Heres something really cool for you nerds out there. Recent research on why we do
what we do has concentrated on decision making. There appears to be a dichotomy in
cognitive neuroscience between reflective versus reflexive decision making. Reflective,
goal-oriented, or what has been termed model-based thinking has now been shown to
be predominantly a right prefrontal function (versus the left prefrontal). This means that
if I have greater left-brain dominance, I will be more prone to habitual, less reasoned, or
what is known as model-free decisions.

Right-brain dominant people base decisions more on perspective thought, weighing
consequences, and seeing possible outcomes. Left-brain dominant individuals make
choices more on what was done in the past, patterns that are common, and the way
Ive always done it.


A study published in Neuron in October, 2013 showed that disrupting the right
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex impaired flexible model-based choices, driving behavior
toward simpler, model-free (habitual) control.

This and other studies show that human choice
behavior often reflects a competition between
inflexible, computationally, efficient control (from
the left brain) and a slower more flexible system
based on weighing factors and consequences
(the right brain). One can see that BOTH are
necessary for optimal performance in a complex
world.

There are times we need reflexive, non-emotional
decision-making that will be efficient and give us a
good chance that the result will be similar to past
outcomes based on similar circumstances and
there are other times where being able to imagine
all side of either ruling will guide us to the best
selection. Imbalance is not healthy.

Mirror Neurons

My dog Lady is a great friend. Shes obedient (for
the most part) and since shes aged a few years,
shes just the level of mellow that I like in a pet.
She drives me crazy though when Im busy doing
something like carrying groceries from the car or
running to the barn to get the power drill. Wanting
my immediate attention, I find myself frustrated
with her uncanny ability to position herself exactly
in the direction Im moving. Look out Lady, I cry,
as she moves again precisely where I was
planning to step. She has absolutely no sense of
self! She has no idea that shes in the way
because she doesnt even know that she is she.
She cannot possibly see my point of view, cannot
place herself in my situation, and cannot
understand my intention because she has no sense of being.

What makes humans human? We are born completely dependent on mom and take
years to develop; but Lady was wrestling with her brothers just minutes after her birth.
Brett, my first grandson, took months to roll over, longer to sit up on his own and nearly
a year before he walked and finally blurted out what was deep inside him since birth,
Grandpa is my favorite. Lady on the other hand seemed to possess near her current
intelligence weeks after birth and though her fondness for stealing shoes has
diminished, shes been Lady as I know her now since she was a pup.
What is human memory?"
Manning asked. He gazed at the air
as he spoke, as if lecturing an
invisible audience - as perhaps he
was. "It certainly is not a passive
recording mechanism, like a digital
disc or a tape. It is more like a
story-telling machine. Sensory
information is broken down into
shards of perception, which are
broken down again to be stored as
memory fragments. And at night, as
the body rests, these fragments are
brought out from storage,
reassembled and replayed. Each
run-through etches them deeper
into the brain's neural structure.
And each time a memory is
rehearsed or recalled it is
elaborated. We may add a little,
lose a little, tinker with the logic,
fill in sections that have faded,
perhaps even conflate disparate
events.

"In extreme cases, we refer to this
as confabulation. The brain creates
and recreates the past, producing,
in the end, a version of events that
may bear little resemblance to what
actually occurred. To first order, I
believe it's true to say that
everything I remember is false.
! Arthur C. Clarke

Humans are different. We are more neurologically advanced yet it takes years, even
decades, to mature through stages that lower species seem to conquer in days or
weeks. Why? It seems rather counterintuitive. Shouldnt higher level species have
evolved a quicker defense against predators and be able to progress more rapidly to
higher consciousness? Lets talk about a special class of brain cells called mirror
neurons.

We humans learn much of what we know by imitation. As neurons myelinate, our sense
of self becomes keen and soon we are able to do something lower species cannot we
can adopt anothers point of view. The ability to see the world from anothers point of
view is a complex function that my dog will never possess. Her frontal lobe is too small!
I might embarrassingly add that often my frontal lobe acts as if it is equally small when I
fail to see things from her point of view and blurt out expletives that I later regret.

The ability to create a mental model of anothers complex thoughts, called theory of
mind, is unique to humans. Though Disney makes movies where animals reason and
plan and argue and contemplate and set goals and give advice, Lady and her fellow
non-homosapiens, no matter how many times I may say, Cant you SEE Im carrying
groceries, will never understand. Its tied to our ability to converse; our language to
convey to another what we think about, how we feel, and even how we feel they feel
about us. I can understand a complex dramatic plot and enjoy watching The Notebook
because I possess mirror neurons (Ive never actually watched The Notebook). I know
what youre thinking Ive finally solved the age-old quandary and can now explain it to
men everywhere: women have more mirror neurons! This may actually be true, but well
discuss this another time.

Mirror neurons enable you to simply watch someone do something and fire the same
brain circuit as if you did the same thing. They enable you to imagine doing something
and fire the same circuit as if you actually did it. This is why I get an unpleasant
sensation course my body when I watch Funniest Home Videos and see a skateboarder
miss a rail and why I get a chill up my spine when I hear a patient explain how they
missed the last step before tumbling to the tile. I have mirror neurons. Watch someone
get pricked with a needle and youll fire pain pathways that can be measured on EEG
scans.

Its amazing really. We have the unique ability to empathize intimately with anothers
misfortunes. We have the exclusive skill to learn, strategize, and contemplate what
others may be contemplating. Humans can wonder. Mirror neurons give us the
capability to blur the boundary between self and others.

Ive asked patients, If I stepped on your foot, where would you feel the pain? They, of
course answer, my foot. Really, I play. the receptors for pain may be in your foot but
you actually experience the pain in your parietal lobe, on the other side. It is the
neuronal cell body in the primary sensory cortex in the parietal lobe that feels the pain
and that then sends messages to the frontal lobe to make decisions about and react to
such a stimulus.


The ability to even contemplate the above paragraph required receptors in your auditory
cortex to send messages to the frontal lobe and so on. Why am I boring you with this
mental yoga? Because its extremely important when we are talking about problems that
people have that would possess them to read a book like this. Mirror neurons are in the
brain and problems in the brain cause problems with mirror neurons.

Depression, in part, can be explained as the inability to inhibit the mirror neuron
pathway perseverating on impending doom; anxiety is the inability to inhibit fight or flight
centers. Autism and Aspergers is an obvious fracture of mirror neurons revealing
countless symptoms of ones inability to see anything beyond the narrow tunnel of
immediate gratification. They are chained, like Lady, to whatever degree of inability to
see beyond their current point of view.

A healthy free will is only possessed by those with healthy cortical mirror neurons. We
can consciously inhibit most motor functions and override mimicking anothers
behavior but autonomic function still prevails. If I tell my daughter there is a spider on
her back, shell scream, sweat, panic, jump and throw her hands up in that girl-ish way
girls do even before proving my assertation with hard evidence. That was her learned
response (I never taught her that, it must have
been her mother). She fired real pathways.

As we will see in later chapters, the ability to
control these pathways is health. Phobias are
over-firing learned circuits; OCD, tics, PTSD, and
panic attacks are the same inability to control
mirror neuron circuits. The same is true for
someone stuck in self-pity, narcissistic
personalities, and violent criminals with no
hesitation to harm another. Healthy individuals
can inhibit circuits that less healthy people cant
and the fact that inhibitory pathways can be
strengthened is the very reason we wrote this book and gives hope to civilization!

The Limbic System

Limbic is an odd Latin term meaning the edge or border. Its where we get the word
limbo. Its an intermediate state between two important places. Early anatomists saw
this area of the brain, that which is between the important neocortex and the midbrain
as the in-between area, or limbic lobe. The limbic system includes one of the following
on each side: the hippocampus, amygdala, and other named structures in the temporal
lobes that we wont be discussing. (Some experts would also include parts of the
hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain reticular formation, and olfactory areas in the limbic
system.)

The neural processes underlying
that which we call creativity have
nothing to do with rationality. That
is to say, if we look at how the brain
generates creativity, we will see
that it is not a rational process at
all; creativity is not born out of
reasoning.
! Rodolfo R. Llins, I of the
Vortex: From Neurons to Self

Are you bored yet? Hang in there as you may spot some relevance as we discuss
symptoms when these structures arent working well. The Limbic System houses
several important structures to anyone with behavioral or emotional issues.

First lets discuss the hippocampus because it has such a groovy name. Historically, the
earliest hypothesis was that the hippocampus was involved in the sense of smell. Now
we know that it is more tied to memories of different smells and how a particular smell of
lets say German potato salad instantly connects us to Grandmas house on
Thanksgiving when you were 5. Over the years, anatomists have whittled down several
main ideas of hippocampal function: inhibition, memory, special order, and circadian
rhythm.

The behavioral inhibition theory (caricatured by O'Keefe and Nadel as "slam on the
brakes!") was very popular up to the 1960s. It derived much of its justification from two
observations: first, that animals with hippocampal damage tend to be hyperactive;
second, that animals with hippocampal damage often have difficulty learning to inhibit
responses that they have previously been taught.

The second major theory relates the hippocampus to memory. This idea stems from a
famous report by Scoville and Brenda Milner describing the results of surgical
destruction of the hippocampus (in an attempt to relieve epileptic seizures), in a patient
named Henry Gustav Molaison, known until his death in 2008 as H.M. The unexpected
outcome of H.M.s surgery was a specific type of amnesia: H.M. was unable to form
new memories after his surgery and could not remember any events that occurred just
before his surgery. He retained memories for things that happened years earlier, such
as his childhood. This case produced such enormous interest that H.M. reportedly
became the most intensively studied medical subject in neurological history.

There were then other patients with similar levels of hippocampal damage and amnesia
(caused by accident or disease) have been studied as well. There is now almost
universal agreement that the hippocampus plays some sort of important role in memory
and most agree its role is more similar to the part of the brain that the original
anatomists placed it than they could ever imagine because it is a check station for
working memory (things happening now) to pass through to long-term storage (in the
temporal lobe).

What does this mean to you? Well, if youve ever walked into a room and asked yourself
that stupid question, What did I come in here to get? then youve experienced a blip
in your hippocampus. Working memory, or current thoughts and plans, needs to shunt
back from the planning centers in the prefrontal cortex, through the hippocampus to the
temporal lobe where they are stored for future use. Honey, will you get me the scissors
in the kitchen, spoken when Im in the middle of writing a section on the limbic system
ends up with me standing in the kitchen with absolutely NO idea of why I was there. In
this case, brain chatter caused incomplete processing of frontal lobe commands.

Is it just age that brings about a greater incidence of senior moments? If so, then
somebody tell me why my teenager cant seem to follow simple instructions even if I
tattooed them on her arm. Yes, chatter, disinterest, and not really paying attention will

cause working memory issues but abnormal attention problems and continually
forgetting where your keys are or having to resort more on lists than ever before are all
signs of hippocampal damage, most commonly caused by inflammation. Well talk more
about causes in a later chapter but right now, lets just admit we may have a problem.

The third important theory of hippocampal function relates the hippocampus to space.
The spatial theory was championed by a very influential book, ''The Hippocampus as a
Cognitive Map''. As with the memory theory, there is now almost universal agreement
that spatial coding plays an important role in hippocampal function. A cognitive map is a
type of mental representation (you could say your minds eye) which serves an
individual to acquire, sort, store, recall, and decode information about the relative
locations (where) and attributes (what) of phenomena in their everyday spatial
environment.

You could say that the hippocampus works to sort experiences into respective files and
then recover them for future use like a file clerk carefully labeling those little plastic tabs
that go on the green hanging files and systematically placing all the important papers in
the perfect alphabetical order. Boy am I dating myself! Maybe a better example would
be how I acted just like a hippocampus this morning when I sorted all my Word
documents into neat files on my desktop so I wouldnt have to spend 45 minutes trying
to find a handout on liver/gallbladder flush to give to a patient (like I did yesterday).

Some researchers view the hippocampus as part
of a larger medial temporal lobe memory system
responsible for general declarative memory
(memories that can be explicitly verbalized
these would include, for example, memory for
facts in addition to episodic memory). Damage to
the hippocampus does not affect some types of memory, such as the ability to learn
new motor or cognitive skills (playing a musical instrument, or solving certain types of
puzzles, for example). This fact suggests that such abilities depend on different types of
memory (procedural memory) and different brain regions.

Finally well discuss the hippocampus role in circadian rhythm, you know, that smooth
Jazz band that your Uncle Larry listens to. No, the circadian rhythm is the cyclical output
of hormone release. This timekeeping system, or biological clock, allows us to
anticipate and prepare for the changes in the physical environment that are associated
with day and night, energy needs of the body and brain, and sleep patterns thereby
ensuring we will do the right thing at the right time of the day.
When I hear patients say things like, I cant fall asleep, or I fall asleep fine but then
wake and cant get back to sleep, I think, They have a screwed-up hippocampus (or
sometimes I think, Id really like a peanut butter sandwich but lets not confuse things
here).

Cutting through all my ridiculous attempts to bring my really stupid humor to a rather
boring topic, lets review some things about the hippocampus before moving on:

It may be important in behavioral inhibition along with the prefrontal cortex
Some people feel guilty about their
anxieties and regard them as a
defect of faith but they are
afflictions, not sins.
-CS Lewis

It is very important in shunting working memory to long-term storage
It is important in sorting and retrieving memories
It may tie memories of special senses (smell) to events, people, or places
It helps with hormone output as it connects to the hypothalamus and pituitary
gland
It may help tie emotional memories to the amygdala as we shall soon see
And, its a fun word to say

Next well discuss the amygdala. It sits at the end of the hippocampus, on both sides of
the brain and I thinks its the name of a French, cream-filled pastry. Its central nucleus
produces autonomic (non-conscious) components of emotion (e.g., changes in heart
rate, blood pressure, and respiration) as well as conscious perception of emotion
primarily through the prefrontal cortex (anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Important to note is that these pathways go both ways
which controls emotional behavior, fears, and anxiety.

The amygdalae perform primary roles in the formation and storage of memories
associated with emotional events. Research indicates that, during fear conditioning,
sensory stimuli reach the amygdalae, particularly the lateral nuclei, where they form
associations with memories of the stimuli, especially if there is a strong emotional
connection. Memories of emotional experiences imprinted in reactions of synapses in
the amygdala elicit fear behavior. Fear behavior may be described as what youd
experience if a grizzly bear tore your tent door off. Think of that for a bit and then I dont
need to describe the loss of digestive control, raw emotions surfacing, sweating, lump-
in-stomach, loss of sexual desire, etc.

This technically happens through connections with a grouping of neurons in whats
called the central nucleus of the amygdalae and the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis
(BNST). The central nuclei are involved in the genesis of many fear responses,
including freezing (immobility), tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), increased respiration, and
stress-hormone release. This is because it fires directly into the sympathetic nervous
system (the flight, fight, or freeze system).
Stimulation of the amygdala causes intense emotion, such as aggression or fear.

An example of a strong stimulation of the amygdala would be a panic attack. Panic
attacks are brief spontaneously recurrent episodes of terror that generate a sense of
impending disaster without a clearly identifiable cause. PET scans have shown an
increase in blood flow to the hippocampus, beginning with the right hippocampus (think
right brain more emotional) and then to the amygdala. Similar but attenuated blood
flow increases occurs during anxiety attacks and prolonged stress.

Destructive lesions of the amygdala cause tameness in animals, and a placid calmness
in humans characterized as a flatness of affect no personality. Lesions of the
amygdala can occur as a result of Urbach-Wiethe disease where calcium is deposited in
the amygdala. If this disease occurs early in life then these patients with bilateral
amygdala lesions cannot discriminate emotion in facial expressions, but their ability to
identify faces remains (the anatomical area for face recognition and memory is in the
temporal cortex). This is a good example of how emotion in one area (amygdala) is

linked with perception in another area (temporal lobe) to create an intense emotionally
charged memory.

Any lesions of the amygdala or from the prefrontal cortex connections to the amygdala
were shown to be primarily responsible for flatness of affect. This work eventually led
to the psychosurgical technique of prefrontal lobotomies (my aunt had this done in the
1930s and lived as a personality-less vegetable for 60 years). Remember the movie
with Jack Nicholson, One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest? The prefrontal cortex inputs
into the amygdala and severing this input obliterates the conscious connections to
emotions, social behavior, and interaction leaving a flatness of affect directly
proportional to the size of the lesion.

Likewise, the opposite is true with excitation lack of inhibition, excessive motive, OCD-
like behavior, excessively emotional, etc. Lesions may increase or decrease function of
any particular area or its connections to or from such lobe. Remember, by lesion we
mean any interference, stimulation or abnormal function.

The amygdala combines many different somatosensory and visceral inputsthis is
where you get your gut reaction. The link between prefrontal cortex (conscious
awareness and decision-making), hypothalamus (hormonal response), and amygdala
(emotional memory), likely gives us our gut feelings, those subjective yet protective
feelings about what is good and what is bad.

One intriguing observation in ASD is the apparent enlargement of the amygdala. The
concept of allostatic overload (McEwen 2004, and McEwen & Lasley, 2003) was
coined hypothesizing a possible biological defect causing an overgrowth. The
enlargement of the amygdala would explain an increased activity of amygdalar function
in many individuals a heightened level of fear and anxiety, chronic stress of an overly
sympathetic (by sympathetic I am referring to the sympathetic nervous system
controlling fight or flight responses) state, and generalized avoidance of social
situations.

The amygdala has dense neuronal connections to the visual centers, modulating many
levels of visual stimulation. Such visual processing of faces is essential to brain
development in the newborn. A child impaired with a lesion in amygdalar connections
may fail to fire impulses and lay pathways to the right prefrontal cortex in particular,
further leading to social behavior issues as the child ages.

The ventral (front) of the mesencephalon (Midbrain) makes dopamine, a
neurotransmitter for the brain. This dopamine projects to a multitude of areas aiding
many functions including the cortex for activation and the neostriatum. Think of the
neostriatum as the "gateway" to the basal ganglia effecting both the direct pathway
(which facilitates movement) as well as the indirect pathway (which defacilitates)
movement.

The neostriatum is composed of three groups of neural structures: the putamen, the
caudate and the nucleus accumbens. The putamen relays connections for movement of
the peripheral. For instance, if you have lost dopamine to this area, you get the slow,

rigid, masking, hypokinetic tremor in Parkinsons disease. If you get too much dopamine
to the putamen your arms will fling as in ballismus or chorea.

The caudate, instead of getting dopamine from the substantia nigra in the ventral
mesencephalon, it gets dopamine from the ventral tegmentum, AKA "mesolimbic area".
This area is fired by basic emotions. So, when dopamine from this area goes up, your
caudate will fire and it creates motion not to the limbs like the putamen, but rather the
face and muscles related to emotions, like brows, lips, frown and so forth. This is why
one cannot help but express facial expressions when experiencing emotions and
trained experts, like police investigators, can tell if someone is telling the truth by
reading their face.

The nucleus accumbens is the third portion of the neostriatum. It takes all "positive and
euphoric" projections and tells the brain via a direct pathway how awesome the
experience was. In addictions, for instance, if you take one hit of meth amphetamines, it
will alter the amount of dopamine to your nucleus accumbens for the rest of your life. On
a healthy note, the nucleus accumbens has an important role
in pleasure including laughter, reward, and reinforcement learning, as well
as fear, aggression, impulsivity, addiction, and the placebo effect. Yes, one can actually
decide that they like something and increase dopamine stores in the nucleus
accumbens giving an understanding of optimistic personalities!

When someone has emotional, hyperkinetic disorders as in anxiety, insomnia, tics,
OCD, ADHD or just poor behavior, the astute clinician should consider an autoimmune
response to neostriatal tissue. Numerous research studies have proven that neostriatal
antibodies, secondary to autoimmunity is second only to cerebellar antibodies in
commonality. Continued firing of these limbic pathways creates neuronal highways, per
say, and reinforces the problem.

Its an interconnection, less like a subway map than the lines on a jigsaw puzzle. Yes,
neuronal connections are more linear and defined, but what well soon see is that
neurons also communicate in ways we never dreamed of through the glial cells that
we once thought of as neural glue.

Brain Glue

The brilliant physician, innovator, and professor, Rudolph Virchow was 59 years old
when he entered politics, serving in the German Reichstag (18801893), while also
directing the Pathological Institute in Berlin. He helped shape healthcare reforms
introduced in Germany during the administration of Otto von Bismarck. His prolific
writings, while mainly on topics of pathology, included many essays and addresses on
social medicine and public health.

Virchows greatest accomplishment was his observation that a whole organism does
not get sickonly certain cells or groups of cells. He believed (in opposition to modern
medicine) that health came from healthy cells and changing cellular biology and

searching for cause was the best practice of medicine. But remember, most doctors
believed this concept that today makes doctors like us quacks; this was pre-pharma
days. In 1855, at the age of 34, he published his now famous precept omnis cellula e
cellula (every cell stems from another cell). With this approach Virchow propelled the
field of cellular pathology. He stated that all diseases involve changes in normal cells,
that is, all pathology ultimately is cellular pathology.

He was opposed to Bismarcks excessive military budget, which angered Bismarck
sufficiently to challenge Virchow to a duel, a popular way to settle a dispute in the
1800s. Virchow, being entitled to choose the weapons, chose 2 pork sausages: a
cooked sausage for himself and an uncooked one, loaded with Trichinella larvae, for
Bismarck. He was my kind of guy; maybe I should challenge the state boards to the
same dual! Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor, declined the proposition as too risky.

It is Virchow who is credited to discovering the special cells in the brain that were
thought to simply hold the neurons together. Hence, neuroglia or glial cells (brain glue)
were aptly named and henceforth, ill-studied
as they were thought to do little but what their
name implied. As we will see, current
research has proven that God truly doesnt
make junk and there is little waste in the
natural function of cells. Glia have a multitude of
functions and many brain problems stem from issues with glia.

Glial cells functions include providing support for the brain, assisting in nervous system
repair and maintenance, assisting in the development of the nervous system, provide
metabolic functions for neurons, they house the immune system for the brain, are what
make up myelin for quicker neuron pathways and even conduct communications across
to adjoining neurons.

There are several types of glial cells present in the nervous system of humans:

Astrocytes are found in the brain's capillaries and form the blood-brain barrier that
restricts what substances can enter the brain. These star-shaped glial cells provide
physical support to neurons and clean up debris within the brain. They also provide
some of the chemicals needed for proper functioning and help control the chemical
composition of fluid surrounding neurons, bathing them in nutrition by receiving glucose
from capillaries, breaking the glucose down into lactate (the chemical produced during
the first step of glucose metabolism), and then releasing the lactate into the extra
cellular fluid surrounding the neurons. The neurons receive the lactate from the extra
cellular fluid and transport it to their mitochondria to use it for energy. In this process
astrocytes store a small amount of glycogen, which stays on reserve for times when the
metabolic rate of neurons in the area is especially high. Remember, neurons require
two things to stay alive: fuel and activation. Glucose, supplied by astrocytes, is the fuel!

In order to provide physical support for neurons astrocytes also form matrixes that keep
neurons in place. In addition, this matrix serves to isolate synapses. This limits the
Great spirits have always
encountered violent opposition from
mediocre minds.
-Albert Einstein

dispersion of transmitter substances released by terminal buttons; thus aiding in the
smooth transmission of neural messages. Think of astrocytes as the Secret Service
agents of the neuron.

Astrocytes are also garbage collectors, performing a process known as phagocytosis.
Phagocytosis occurs when an astrocyte contacts a piece of neural debris with its
processes (arm of the astrocyte) and then pushes itself against the debris eventually
engulfing and digesting it.

Finally coming clean with acknowledging the long-term risks of traumatic brain injury in
American football players, studies for sideline concussion diagnosis and testing for
neurological deficits has revealed more startling news. While concussions have been
recognized as causes for a spectrum of neurological problems, the consequences of
sub-concussive events (repeated trauma without ever being labeled as a concussion)
are now being revealed. We are finding that head trauma, whether severe (concussive)
or recurrent microtraumas, disrupts the blood-brain barrier (BBBD) and the
accompanying surge of a specific protein released by the astrocytes (protein S100B) in
blood may cause an immune response associated with production of auto-antibodies.

These are super important findings because both patients and doctors have questioned
my long-held hypothesis that BBBD is the real culprit in brain-based disorders. Once the
BBBD occurs, anything circulating in the blood can enter the CNS and become a source
of inflammation. This is the CAUSE of so many problems! The BBB is no longer a
protective moat that keeps chemicals, heavy metals, proteins, inflammatory cytokines
from a cold or flu, and anything else that happens to be in the blood due to that
individuals current state.

It gets worse. When repeated traumas occur, studies show, as stated above, that the
astrocytes that make up the blood-brain barrier release S100B, a protein that can create
an immune response against the astrocytes themselves. Understand the gravity of this.
Repeated traumas and concussive events increase the likelihood of the patient
developing an autoimmune disorder that destroys the blood-brain barrier!

Other damage to the BBB occurs with every assault listed in this book (toxicities, food
additives/flavorings, gluten, alcohol, stress, GMOs, excitotoxins, artificial sweeteners,
chemicals, etc.) and everyone, regardless of current symptoms, should be doing things
to heal their BBB. Obviously, the first step is to remove the insult. Also, there are
several nutrients that are known to help heal the BBB.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) protects the blood brain barrier by preserving its integrity on a
cellular level. Studies show that a decline in mitochondrial function contributes to the
aging process, also carnitine concentration in tissue declines with age. By
supplementing your Acetyl-L-Carnitine levels (100mg-1g per day) you can heal the
problem at its source and reduce mitochondrial decay substantially.

Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests the chemical
sulforaphane, which is found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower,
cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli), could help boost the condition of the blood-brain

barrier if it is damaged.

Activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related
factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a pivotal role in the cellular defense against oxidative stress and
aides in neuroprotection. Cytoprotective enzymes found in foods listed above also
stimulate Nrf2. Curcumin, Green Tree Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, N-Acetyl Cysteine
Phosphatidylcholine, Vinpocetine, Feverfew extract, Butcher's Broom extract, Ginkgo
extract, Cayenne Pepper, Baicalin (from skullcap root extract), Resveratrol, some of the
Medicinal Mushrooms, and Coenzyme Q10 are also beneficial.

Microglia are extremely small glial cells that remove cellular waste and protect against
microorganisms. Traditionally, microglia are thought to be sedentary in the healthy
brain and activate only during episodes of brain injury or disease (such Alzheimers
disease, Multiple Sclerosis and epilepsy), where they play both neuro-protective and
neuro-degenerative roles. That thought has changed with recent studies showing that
even when quiescent, microglia are highly dynamic and their processes are constantly
surveying brain tissue for signs of neural damage. If astrocytes are the Secret Service,
microglia are the CIA/FBI.

A role for microglia in normal brain processes, such as plasticity (brain molding) has
now been described. Recent data indicate that microglia are able to sculpt developing
neural circuits by engulfing synapses and contributing to synaptic pruning. They are
resident macrophages (immune system killer cells) of the central nervous system that
display high functional similarities to other tissue macrophages that help create and
maintain an intact tissue homeostasis to support the neuronal cells, which are very
sensitive even to minor changes in their environment.

Microglial cells are the dominant antigen presenting cells in the brain which means they
are mainly responsible for keeping infections out of your cranium. Upon attack, they are
highly up-regulated and are essential for interacting with T lymphocytes to kill
pathogens. This up-regulation is a blessing when the immune system is able to kill an
invader but is also a curse if the pathogen is unable to be located leading to an
autoimmune disorder such as Multiple Sclerosis. See the section on autoimmune
disease later in this book or my book, Help, My Body is Killing Me! available on
Amazon or as a free download to our website www.UpperRoomWellness.com.

In the case of microglial cells attacking self-tissue in Multiple Sclerosis, they
phagocytose (eat away at) myelin (the protective covering of the neurons), degrade it
and present peptides of the myelin proteins as antigens to the Th1 macrophages. By
releasing cytokines such as CCl2 and Th17, microglial cells are important for recruiting
leucocytes into the central nervous system. Microglia interact with infiltrating T
lymphocytes and mediate the immune response in the brain. They have the capacity to
stimulate proliferation of both TH1 and TH2 responses and therefore are active in all
autoimmune brain disorders like Chronic Lyme, MS, ALS, etc.

Calming microglial and therefore calming immune up-regulation is essential in
controlling all inflammatory processes in the brain!


Oligodendrocytes produce the myelin sheath, the insulating material that surrounds
nerve fibers (axons). This sheath greatly increases the speed at which electrical signals
are transmitted, a crucial feature. Learning is greatly dependent on myelination; the very
reason that a 4-year old can be expected to act like a 4-year old and not a 2-year old
nor a 12-year old is because of the degree of myelination. There is no possible way a
newborn can do things that a one year old can; they have few myelinated fibers!
Therefore, in an autoimmune reaction as described in the above paragraph, microglia
are partially responsible for destroying oligodendrocytes.

All white matter tracts contain oligodendrocytes to form myelin but oligodendrocytes are
also found in gray matter. These satellite oligodendrocytes have so far unknown
functions possibly serving to regulate ionic homeostasis similarly to astrocytes.
Schwann cells are last type of glial cell and are the cellular counterparts to
oligodendrocytes in the peripheral nervous system (outside of the brain and spinal
cord), forming the myelin sheath there.

For your Doctor about Healing the BBB
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is what is often damaged in patients needing brain
therapy. The truth is, everyone probably has some damage to their BBB. In attempting
to help heal it, I think that we need to understand some vascular biology.
How does BBB damage begin?
It starts in the vessels, both cranial and systemic. Just like heart disease, brain
inflammation begins as an endothelial problem. The endothelium is the lining of the
arteries and since we are talking about the blood-brain barrier, well discuss the vessels
that feed the brain. Remember, neuronal function is dependent on both fuel and
activation and the fuel is delivered through the arteriole system guarded closely in the
brain by the special glial cells called astrocytes.
The endothelium is a single layer of cells that act as a wall with thousands of little gates
called receptors that allow certain chemicals in to affect the smooth muscle layer
beneath it. If this protective wall gets damaged or the gates get stuck open, we are
going to have a problem and a problem in the vessel wall soon spells a problem in the
barrier.
Blood testing that should always be considered (and seldom is) with all brain-based
symptoms includes a complete vascular profile but measuring cholesterol, HDL and
LDL is insufficient in testing out vessel health. All HDL isnt "good" and all LDL
isnt bad. Ask your doctor for more specific tests like hsCRP, Homocysteine,
oxidizedLDL, Lipoprotein A, and Apolipoproteine A.
Your vessels are lined with a single-cell layer of tissue called endothelium; under this
endothelial layer is a smooth muscle layer that is responsible for contracting (raising
blood pressure in times of needed blood flow) and relaxation (lowering and normalizing

arterial pressure in the brain). This endothelial lining is really the KEY; it is the barrier,
the wall that allows both willingly and not, changes in the muscle tone as well as
invasions into the delicate space underneath.
Lets say this again but start at the beginning. We eat food and impurities hit the first
barrier, the stomach. Here, the pH is extremely acidic for two main reasons: it digests
(breaking for into smaller particles) and kills pathogens. This second purpose of HCl
(stomach acid) is of vital importance as it is the first line of defense against potential
destroyers of other barriers like the blood-brain barrier. Helicobacter pylori, for example,
are ubiquitous bacteria that should be easily killed by a normal acid balance in the
stomach. If you have an imbalanced HCl supply, H. pylori infiltrates and can either
cause a stomach or duodenal ulcer or will pass through attacking other organs. It is
estimated that 95% of H. pylori infections are chronic, insidious and subclinical
meaning it is rarely diagnosed as a disorder itself and usually the culprit of many other
named diseases. H. pylori is such a common cause of vessel damage that leads to both
heart disease and blood-brain barrier disruption that Ive devoted an entire section on it
later in this book.
The second barrier an ingested item encounters is the intestinal wall. Here, cells lining
the hair-like villi protect unwanted guests from entering. Proteins, for example, are
broken into individual amino acids that are small enough to traverse the cellular
barricade. Much of the problem with food sensitivities comes in when separation of the
intestinal cells allows food proteins to pass into the blood before they are completely
digested into amino acids. These proteins and protein particles called peptides are
foreign to the body, stimulate an immune response and our body makes antibodies
against them. This is how gluten becomes an autoimmune antigen and wreaks havoc
through the body. Again, it all starts with a broken barrier.
The next barrier needing to be crossed is the intimal lining of the blood vessel. Blood
flows through the lumen of the vessels and interacts with receptors in the inner covering
called intimal endothelial cells. These are barrier cells that allow nutrients to pass to
feed cells. All cardiovascular disease as well as every brain disorder discussed in this
book starts with endothelial disease! Again, think of the endothelial cell layer as a fence
with hundreds of gates called receptors. These gates are opened with specific chemical
keys that change the function of the smooth muscle layer behind the fence and can
even change the shape of the fence itself. Under normal conditions, chemicals released
by tissues knock on the gates looking for permission to enter. For instance, a
sympathetic nervous system response (fight or flight) in the brain to a perceived stress
causes the release of a chemical that will enter a gate in the endothelial fence to cause
the smooth muscle layer to contract and narrow the lumen of the vessel. This increases
the speed of blood flow and increases the blood pressure so you can run away from the
danger. It is a normal response, but like any normal response, we can get stuck in an
on position from chronic source of stimulation.

There are really an endless number of possible insults that could breach the gates of
the endothelial wall. Chemical toxicity, heavy metal toxicity, food additives, flavorings,
colorings, infections, and endotoxins are just a few of the things that can break the
gates and cause damage to the endothelial layer, the small, smooth muscles and tissue
underneath, and interact with the astrocytes that act as the next (and special) barrier in
the brain. You may have heard about the damage that Homocysteine, glucose, or
oxidized LDL cause, but by far, the worst culprit for damage is infection.
Subclinical (silent) infections are the number one bad guy causing endothelial disease
which leads to blood-brain barrier disruption. Subclinical means the patient doesnt
know they have it! Its a silent disorder that can cause mild, insidious vasculature
damage for years (and yes, it can start at birth) until the victim has symptoms of ADHD,
anxiety, depression, memory loss and dementia, just to name a few. I know this is a lot
of info so Ill sum this up:
1. BBB disruption really starts with damage to the endothelial layer the single-
celled barrier that lines the vessels.
2. If the endothelial layer is breached, several bad things occur that lead to
inflammation in the vessel wall, the tiny muscles underneath the wall, and the
astrocyte cells that are meant to keep larger molecules of things out of the CNS
3. Many possible sources of endothelial damage exist due to poor diet,
environmental exposure to toxins, and ubiquitous infectious organisms but
subclinical infections (unknown to the patient) are the most common and least
diagnosed cause of endothelial disease and hence, brain disorders.
Endothelial disease is always the start of BBB disruption and usually never addressed
by the any doctor. Heck, most doctors dont even address the fact that there is a
disruption in the BBB. Worse, many doctors are still blaming the patients depression on
a chemical imbalance as if it was a disease that poor victim contracted when they were
caught out in the rain without a jacket. Medications can change a persons mood, they
can numb symptoms, and dull hyperactivity. Medications cannot cure because they do
nothing for cause.
Three Possible Responses
There are three possible responses that occur when vascular endothelium is damaged
by the infinite number of possible insults:
a local inflammatory response,
an oxidative stress response,
or an autoimmune reaction.
All three possible responses include inflammation, which is the more damaging aspect
of each response. Like every tissue, the endothelium maintains a fine balance between

injury and repair. It's like a teeter-totter that tips gently back and forth; vessels are
damaged by endless assaults and then healed by a collection of innate physiologic
responses that viewed as a whole, over time, we call health. If an individual has the
unfortunate event of continual and prolonged damage, the repair can actually bring
about problems that we shall soon see.
The first response is acute, local inflammation. Lets use an example of vascular injury
from high Homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a toxic byproduct of protein catabolism
that is an intermediate metabolite; which means it is supposed to be converted to
another nontoxic substance and under normal circumstances it should never
accumulate to levels that would injure the body. Homocysteine is highly corrosive to
endothelial tissue and sets up a series of events that increase inflammation under the
cell lining; it also damages the kidneys as well increasing what is known as the Renin-
Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS). This RAAS response does several things,
including increasing Sympathetic nervous system activity (which increases blood
pressure, increasing anxiety, decreasing detoxification!), increases water retention,
increases cortisol release from the adrenal glands, increases vasoconstriction, which all
work together in your bodys attempt to solve the problem of toxic exposure. However,
prolonged injury, as in chronically elevated Homocysteine levels, will lead to endothelial
disease and BBB disruption (as well as cardiovascular disease).
The second possible response of the vessel is a reaction to oxidative stress, which is an
increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species
(RNS) free radicals that can cause severe cellular damage. As I stated, all three
reactions cause inflammation and several chemical changes including a down-
regulation of the nitric oxide system. Epithelial nitric oxide production is extremely
protective to the cell; decreased production of nitric oxide will cycle-up the inflammation
in and under the endothelial cell layer.
The third response is the most damaging and is therefore the most dangerous cause of
ALL BBB disruption problems Autoimmune Endothelial Disease (AED). AED is a new
term well use for an autoimmune reaction occurring in the endothelial tissue. If youve
read my book, Help, My Body is Killing Me! you will be up to snuff on what an
autoimmune disorder is, but Ill review:
An autoimmune disease is a normal reaction of your immune system to a foreign
invader that it either cannot kill or isnt killable. Normally your immune system turns on
to an enemy attack (bacteria, virus!) and kills it. Should your initial immune response
not be sufficient to kill the antigen (that which it turned on against) it will gradually
increase in intensity. The initial killer response is from the Th1 side of your immune
response, which might be described as the SWAT team that does one thing and does it
well: kill things. Should the Th1 response NOT be able to kill the pathogen, it will
suppress, thus allowing the Th2 response to fire. The Th2 response is primarily

responsible for making antibodies that tag the antigen so the Th1 killer cells can find
and destroy the enemy.
The above is a brief summary of a normal immune response. What can go wrong is if
the immune response erroneously turns on against something it shouldnt have such
as heavy metal toxicity, an environmental poison, or some other non-living substance
the patient was exposed to. Secondly, the immune system can turn on against
something that just doesnt die so easily. Common biotoxins (living organisms that can
attack the body) that infiltrate endothelial tissue include: H. Pylori, Coxsackie virus,
Chlamydia Pneumonia, Lyme, Cytomegalovirus, Gingivitis, Candida, Strep and Staph.
All these little buggers can burrow into the endothelial cells and create an immune
response. Since they have a special ability to go intra-cellular (hide inside the cell), the
Th1 response has a difficult time finding them.
Over time, a ramped-up immune response does two things:
1. It destroys endothelial tissue (both receptors and entire cells) due to collateral
damage in its attempts to kill the antigen, and
2. It starts to mistake self-tissue for the enemy and begins direct destruction of self-
tissue, and
3. An immune response can destroy the astrocyte barrier further allowing antigens to
enter the CNS and further the inflammatory spread!
A continual, low-grade immune response as seen in AED and BBB destruction is very
inflammatory and usually vasoconstrictive. Well go into more detail about this and give
a various examples to drive it home.
This exact same process can/does occur in the vessels in the brain which causes TIAs
and Strokes!
A Common Cause a case study
Remember that there are three responses of the endothelial tissue: acute inflammation,
oxidative stress, and autoimmune disease. Remember that we discussed that the
single-cell layer that lines the vascular structures acts as a barrier or wall that has
hundreds of gates called receptors that allow interaction between the external world
(inside the blood vessel) and the internal world (inside the endothelial cell and then
under it).
John was 54 years old and went in for his annual check-up. After a thorough exam and
blood work his doctor determined that Johns cholesterol, a 203, needed attention. He
was also concerned that the slightly elevated blood pressure required medicating and
re-assured John that both the Lipitor for his cholesterol and the blood pressure

medication at the small dose he was recommending was absolutely necessary to keep
John from an early myocardial event like that experienced by Johns father.
But lets look at what was really happening: Deep inside Johns blood vessels the
endothelial layer weve detailed has been infiltrated years ago by foreign invaders.
Helicobacter Pylori, an enemy that is more commonly known for causing stomach ulcers
is perhaps the most common pathogen to crawl past the stomach lining and invade
deeper tissue. H. Pylori bacteria have slowly spread into cells in Johns lungs and
vessels. Normally an invasion like this would stimulate an all-out attack by local law-
enforcement officers (the immune system) but every troop dispersed has found little
success as the enemy is cunning and has the ability to enter and hide within the cells it
attacks.
Over time, Johns immune system has placed H. Pylori on its top ten most wanted list
and has waged a silent war against this elusive enemy, often finding it in different areas
in the body. The attacks on the H. Pylori found in the endothelium has caused slow,
insidious inflammation in the vessels that has opened gates for chemical responses that
increased smooth muscle tone under the vascular wall this is what caused the
increase in Johns blood pressure.
But Johns doctor hasnt bothered to address the cause of Johns high blood pressure;
hes just prescribed ACE inhibitors to manipulate the numbers. As far as giving him
Lipitor for cholesterol levels of less than 400 well will save that for another time. But it
gets worse:
John leaves the doctors office feeling that he has just added years to his life by
artificially manipulating lab values back into a pre-determined range. Far be it from the
truth! The CAUSE of Johns problem has just continued and the H. Pylori bacteria
continue to take a foot-hold in various places including the endothelial layer in vessels
around the heart, the lungs and the CNS. Years go by and the FBI (his immune system)
has now declared war on H. Pylori, making it prime enemy number one. This intensifies
the inflammatory response in an attempt to kill the bad guy that increases the fluid build-
up under the single-cell layer of tissue lining the arteries. This bulges the cell lining
further into the lumen slightly blocking the flow of blood through the vessels. It also
increases the smooth muscle tone and despite the doctors increase in dosage over the
past few years, Johns blood pressure required another medication.
The vessel walls in the brain have been breached and the astrocytes are failing,
allowing not only H. pylori to interact with microglial immune responses in the brain but
have allowed other chemicals circulating in Johns blood to enter the CNS things that
never should have passed. These new sources of inflammation in the brain have
affected neural pathways and John now attributes his slight, worsening memory loss to
his age.

Continue the story a few more years and see John lying in a hospital bed after
placement of a stent or bypass surgery where the cardiologist found 90% blockage in
several arteries. Picture John with early Dementia, peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, a
growing depression, or MS. Weve done everything we could, may be a commonly
heard phrase from his doctor at this point. But is that true?
Dr. Sherlock Holmes
Lets ask a couple questions:
1. Was CAUSE ever addressed?
2. Everything Ive taught you to this point is NOT alternative; its all in the literature.
Why didnt anyone dig any deeper?
3. If CAUSE is just going to be ignored, is John EVER going to really get better?

Lets just pretend that John came into the office of competent physician, Dr. Sherlock
Holmes before deciding to fill his prescriptions:
John enters with some legitimate concerns with his heart, loss of breath, sleep issues,
memory loss, unclear thinking, and dizziness that the good doctor will need to address.
After explaining the need to find the cause, John agrees to a thorough examination and
series of functional labs which may include: Oxidized LDL (oxLDL), Homocysteine, high
sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) which may indicate acute inflammation. Tests
that may reveal oxidative stress include: 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG) & 8-hydroxy-2-
deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) products of oxidized DNA and RNA; Malondialdehyde
(MDA) byproduct of lipid peroxidation; and Glutathione Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
if decreased suspect oxidative stress.
As far as measuring blood lipid levels, the doctor, suspecting brain inflammation, wants
to get more specific than just cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels: LDLs: Lipoprotein (a) is
a regular LDL with a protein structure attached. This combination increases the risk of
CVD and endothelial damage. Levels are largely genetic but should be <30 mg/dL.
Apolipoprotein B is a carrier protein that helps LDL deposit fat in arterial walls levels
should be <60 mg/dL. IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein) are VLDLs that are
depositing some of their cholesterol and fat in the arteries. As VLDLs shed their fat,
they become more dense and graduate to become an LDL. LDL-real (LDL-R) all
remaining LDLs. Some are small, some large. The smaller ones are more dangerous
even though they carry less cholesterol because they can better infiltrate damaged
endothelium. In general: the smallest size LDL (LDL-B) is the most dangerous. LDL-A
is least dangerous. VLDL or Triglycerides should be <75 mg/dL.
HDLs: HDL-2 larger and more protective (especially HDL-2b); HDL-3 smaller, less
protective; Normally HDL is anti-oxidant and generally protective BUT!in the presence

of a large amount of inflammation (like a chronic Autoimmune disorder), HDL can
become oxidized that renders it useless.
An example of a more complete blood work-up for John then might include: Total
Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and its sub factors, LDL Cholesterol and its sub factors,
Triglycerides, Lipoprotein (a), Lipoprotein Ratios: LDL/HDL & Total/HDL, Ferritin,
Fibrinogen, c-Reactive Protein (HS), Insulin ; Testosterone; Sex Hormone Binding
Globulin; Free Androgen Index; Magnesium, Homocysteine ; Coenzyme Q10; Lipid
Peroxides. Theres more but that suffices.
Tests to identify autoimmune dysfunction include: specific cytokine tests to measure
increases in IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10; Heavy Metal toxicity testing; specific food antigen
testing; environmental toxicity testing, and so on. I use Kinesiology testing and have kits
for every known bio-toxin (virus, mold, fungus, parasite, bacteria) known to man so in
our office we can find EXACTLY the cause of both endothelial and brain inflammation!
Whew, this is really getting boring with all these big words so let me summarize:
1. Never take medication based on lab work or symptoms that doesnt identify CAUSE.
Using medication to manipulate lab values simply give the illusion of health. Dont go to
Dr. David Copperfield, its all a ruse.
2. There are many more specific labs, exams, and testing (including Kinesiology) that
can be done that will EXACTLY point to one of the three causes of endothelial
dysfunction/blood-brain barrier disruption. Find a Dr. Sherlock Holmes in your area!
3. You NEED to identify if you have a local inflammatory process, an oxidative stress
response, or an autoimmune disorder that is causing the BBB disruption and the brain
inflammation that follows in order to treat it properly. Medication will never cure you and
identification of the possible antigen allows you to remove it and take steps to decrease
inflammation and heal the brain.
Protective Measures that Heal the Blood-Brain Barrier
The following is a list of several OTHER things that everyone can do to protect against
BBB disruption and heal the damage that already occurred. By other I mean that I am
assuming that you are already correcting the CAUSE of endothelial damage that
caused the astrocyte destruction.
1. Increase Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) EPCs are similar to stem cells to
your arteries. They rebuild and repair your tissue and need to be in high levels for
regular, daily damage to be taken care of. Measuring them (lab test) is perhaps
the greatest indicator of early impairment low values equaling a greater risk.
They are created in the cord blood and bone marrow similar to stem cells and are
released and mobilized when vascular damage occurs. Think of EPCs as little

carriers of MnSOD and Glutathione two mighty anti-inflammatory chemicals
that stimulate healing.
How do we increase EPCs?
a. EPCs increase with Growth Hormone (GH) release. All of us, even
adults, release IGF-1, a precursor to GH while we sleep. Its purpose is
to stimulate a Th1 (immune response) in the gut to kill off accumulated
toxins in the intestinal tract from a hard days work (especially
necessary for those with poor HCl) and do other things associated with
tissue repair like increase EPCs. The BEST way to stimulate IGF-1
production is to get a good nights sleep! NEVER take GH or GH
stimulating hormones as they can stimulate cancer growth.
b. There are nutritional protocols that increase EPCs which include
Resveratrol, Green Tea Extract (EGCGs), and products that increase
Nitric Oxide: Omega-3 fatty acids, Garlic, ALA, NAC, Hawthorne,
Pomegranate, gamma and delta Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin C,
Vitamin D, Vitamin K2-MK7, the B Vitamins, Flavonoids, CoQ-10, L-
Arginine, Citrulline, Carnitine, Taurine, Celery, Pycnogenol, Grape
Seed Extract, Hesperidin, Melatonin, NADH, Selenium, Bilberry,
Turmeric, Quercetin, cruciferous vegetables, and Medicinal
Mushrooms just to name a few.
c. Perhaps the greatest way to increase EPCs is through exercise. The
best choice of exercise is NOT sustained distance as in running 5
miles. To increase EPC production and protect yourself from BBB
disruption, interval training is what you want to do repetitions of
100% effort for a relatively short period of time followed by a repetition
of 50% effort.
d. Of course, you MUST eliminate the things that decrease EPCs which
includes the source of inflammation and addressing the three
responses Ive covered oxidative stress, inflammation, and
autoimmune disorders.
2. Improve your diet to balance blood sugar swings, diabetic precursors, food
sensitivities and toxic insults:
a. The best indicators of a pre-diabetic state include:
i. HbA1C measures the percent of circulating hemoglobin (the cells
responsible for delivering oxygen to the tissues) that are glycated,
or stuck to glucose. They are like sticky buns floating through your
bloodstream! I like to see my patients at around 5.0 on their
HbA1C.
ii. Oxidized LDL as I discussed earlier, LDLs measured as a whole
tell little of the type of LDL in circulation. We want to get more
specific. Though there are several things that can oxidize both

LDLs and HDLs, diabetes and pre-diabetes is one factor under your
complete control.
iii. Another modification of LDLs is glycated LDLs. If glycated
hemoglobin could be likened to circulating sticky buns, glycated
LDLs could be circulating sticky lard. Im trying to give you a word
picture that makes you a bit queasy. These glycated molecules
attach to receptor sites on the endothelial wall called Pattern
Recognition Receptors (PRRs) that then make your life miserable.
b. See my diet Eating Gods Way for your BBB below:

NEW Eating Gods Way for Your BBB
Meat (grass-fed organic ONLY high in protein and Omega 3)
! NO meat for first _________months
! meat bone soup or stock, liver and heart (must be organic)
! lamb, buffalo, elk, venison, beef, goat, veal
! jerky (organic with no chemicals, nitrates, or nitrites)
! beef or buffalo sausage (with no chemicals and preferably no pork casing)
! beef or buffalo hot dogs (with no chemicals and preferably no pork casing)
Fish (wild- caught ONLY, and the fish must be fish with fins and scales. Eg: No catfish)
! NO fish for first ______________months
! fish soup or stock, salmon, halibut, tuna, cod, scrod, grouper, haddock, walleye, panfish, lake fish
! trout, orange roughy, sea bass, snapper, sardines (canned in water or olive oil only), herring,
sole, whitefish
Poultry (pastured, free-range and organic)
! NO poultry for first ____________months
! poultry bone soup or stock, chicken, Cornish game hen, guinea fowl, turkey, duck
! chicken or turkey bacon or sausage
Lunch Meat (organic, free range, and hormone free ONLY)
! NONE
Eggs (high omega-3/DHA or organic is best)
! chicken eggs (whole with yolk) UNLESS Egg intolerant
Dairy (organic and UN-Pasteurized (RAW) ONLY NON if Dairy Intolerant!!!!)
! NO dairy for first ________________months
! Really NO Dairy for everyone is BEST unless RAW but thats hard to find

! homemade kefir made from raw goats milk or raw cows milk
! raw goats milk hard cheeses, raw cows milk hard cheeses
! goats milk plain whole yogurt, organic cows milk yogurt or kefir
! raw cream, raw butter if possible (or organic)
Fats and Oils (organic is best, you MUST EAT A LOT OF GOOD FAT)
! Oil: coconut oil, extra virgin (best for cooking) olive oil,
! Spread: Ghee butter; RAW butter
! Avocado (eat one every day), coconut milk/cream (canned), oil,
! PARENT OILS Coconut oil, flax oil, borage oil, seed oils
Vegetables (organic fresh or frozen is best)
! ALL veggies are good especially lower carb, organic (broccoli, artichokes, asparagus, beets,
cauliflower)
! STRICTLY LIMIT white potatoes and corn (corn is really a grain), eat sweet potatoes instead
Fruits (organic fresh or frozen is best)
! Stone fruits are BEST fruits with a pit
! LIMIT dried fruits (no sugar or sulfites), raisins, figs, dates, prunes; NO FRUIT JUICES!!!
Grains and Starchy Carbohydrates (organic is best, and whole grains and flours are best if soaked
for six to twelve hours before cooking) ***Brain-Based Therapy patients MUST stay off Gluten!!!
! NO GRAINS is best!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, thats right, I said NO GRAINS!
! Gluten-FREE oats, rice, millet
! Pamelas Mix brand flour for baking, waffles, pancakes; use Quinua
! UDI bread is a good gluten free brand that makes bread and muffins but it is high carbs!
Sweeteners (NO Artificial and NO High Fructose Corn Syrup!!!)
! Unheated raw honey; honey; date sugar; stevia; pure maple syrup; NO ARTIFICIAL
SWEETNERS!!!!!!
Beans and Legumes (best if soaked for twelve hours)
! miso, lentils, tempeh, natto, black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, white beans, pinto beans,
red beans
! split peas, garbanzo beans, lima beans, broad beans, black-eyed peas
Nuts and Seeds (organic, raw, and/or soaked is best)
! RAW almonds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, almond butter, tahini,
! hemp or pumpkin seed butter, sunflower butter, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, hazelnuts,
Brazil nuts
Condiments, Spices, and Seasonings (organic is best MUST BE GLUTEN FREE)

! salsa (fresh or canned), tomato sauce (no added sugar), guacamole (fresh), NO soy sauce (use
Braggs Aminos)
! apple cider vinegar, raw salad dressings and marinades, herbs and spices (no added stabilizers)
! Herbamare seasoning, Celtic Sea Salt, sea salt, mustard, ketchup (no High Fructose Corn
Syrup), salad dressings (no canola oil)
! marinades (no canola oil), omega-3 mayonnaise, natural extracts such as vanilla or almond
Beverages
! Reverse osmosis purified water; unsweetened herbal teas, raw vegetable or fruit juices, lacto-
fermented beverages (like Kombucha unless Candida issues), coconut water
*Limit Carbohydrates to less than 50 grams/day or less *Detox Diets I recommend may severely
limit some of the above for a period of time *Consider Coffee Enemas to flush out the intestinal
tract and cleanse the body *Add ONLY supplements that Dr. Conners has instructed never buy
things from store!*Study and meditate on Scripture daily, focus on what is good, holy and
righteous; keep away from the negative, bad thoughts and disease-oriented thinking. Focus on
the PROCESS not the outcome.

Changing the way you brain thinks
Neuro-Plasticity

The brain has approximately 100 billion neurons with trillions of possible connections. It
has been estimated that there are more synaptic connections in one human brain than
there are stars in the known universe. This gives the brain virtually limitless processing
power and a tremendous variability in this system. There are thousands of different
neurotransmitters and the number of connections changes with activity. The type and
the density of receptors can be regulated up or down. Hormones can influence the
sensitivity of the cells and/or neurotransmitters and the number of synaptic connections
can vary.

The human brain is extremely plastic, which means it is modifiable based on activity and
experiences. It can change its shape, size, number of branches, and number of
connections as well as the strength of its connections. Neurons in the brain are
interconnected with many other neurons and, in turn, each neuron receives input from
many synapses of its dendrites and cell body and, as stated earlier, communication
through glial cells is now found to be possible.
The resulting neuronal loops contain neurons whose output signal may be either
excitatory or inhibitory they turn on and turn
off impulses. Heres an example: Pain fibers in
your body (lets use your feet as an example) are
constantly firing from pressure receptors that
travel pathways called small diameter afferents
(SDAs). These SDAs are constantly firing into the brain, without stopping. So how does
the average (healthy) person NOT have constant pain? Well, there are other pathways
that block this pain signal. One is the large diameter afferent (LDA) pathway that gives
collateral inhibitory signals to shut-down the pain signal. Another is called the
descending inhibitory pain pathway coming from the frontal lobe, firing to the spinal
cord to where the SDAs enter a little way station called Lamina 2. Here the descending
inhibitory pathway squashes the pain signals so your feet dont hurt.
Too much information? Stick with me here because lets think about this for a minute. If
I have a problem with my LDAs and/or a problem with my descending inhibitory pain
pathway, I will (not maybe) have chronic pain! But get this, it is NOT because I have a
greater SOURCE of pain, it is because I cannot inhibit current pain signals!
Okay, maybe were the only ones that find this fascinating but from a neurological point
of view, these pathways can be tested. Moreover, they can (in most cases) be
rehabbed!

In Functional Neurology we say that if two neurons are excited together, they become
linked functionally. In short, neurons that FIRE TOGETHER, WIRE TOGETHER. One
A fast tongue is a sign of a slow
brain
! Abu Fennek

can therefore make real, anatomical changes in neuronal pathways by purposefully
firing nearby neuronal pools. Neurons stay alive through two necessary forces: Fuel and
activation. If there is a decrease in either, the pathway dies!

Example: John has a decreased firing on his Dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC)
with symptoms of ADD/ADHD and many behavioral issues. We develop a program of
stimulation of the DLPFC through Neurofeedback and a series of home brain-based
therapies that will repeatedly fire into the DLPFC and re-pave the road. Of course, the
cause must be corrected as well (source of inflammation, etc.).

When a neuron is stimulated, it will produce more protein for production of membrane,
neurotransmitters, and organelles, like mitochondria. If you were to view the brains of
people who frequently practice playing the violin under fMRI (functional MRI) they
appear to have developed a larger area of their brain devoted to mapping their fingers.
This change is directly related to the quantity and the quality of the practice theyre
performing their brains are adapting in very real and necessary ways.

Author Mike Torres writes, You can picture this
yourself by imagining the flow of water through
sand (Im writing this from a beach in Kauai so
excuse the metaphor but I always find a mental
motion picture is worth a thousand words!) When
seawater first runs over the sand, there isnt a
path for it to follow so it starts to form one for
itself. As the water continues to flow over the
sand, the pathway forms a real groove in the
sand and gets deeper and more defined. It may
start to branch off and take up more room in the
sand if necessary, even reforming pathways on
top of pathways that are no longer in use if it
needs to. Once the pathways are formed, it
becomes more difficult to change the water flow
and if the water ever stops flowing, the pathway will remain for some time in the hopes
that itll be used again at some point. (This is why picking something back up after
some time of inactivity is easier than starting a new activity cold).

What well discuss in detail is that, in order to function and grow, brain cells need two
things. One is fuel in the form of oxygen and glucose; and the second is stimulation
(brain exercise). However, increasing fuel alone does not cause brain cells to grow; only
stimulation does. As the brain cells grow in size, they require more fuel to have the
ability to do more work.

If our brain cells have an abundance of fuel (oxygen and glucose), but we fail to
stimulate it, the brain cells degenerate and die. Therefore, the most important element
in growth of brain cells, and the growth of the brain itself, is based on increased
stimulation. Although neurons have limitations in reproduction after birth, glial cells
replicate based on increased metabolic demand of the neurons (increased stimulation).
What the Net seems to be doing is
chipping away my capacity for
concentration and contemplation.
Whether Im online or not, my mind
now expects to take in information
the way the Net distributes it: in a
swiftly moving stream of particles.
Once I was a scuba diver in the sea
of words. Now I zip along the
surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.
! Nicholas G. Carr, The
Shallows: What the Internet is
Doing to Our Brains

This increase in growth of glial cells allows the neurons to make more connections,
which increases the ability and speed of the cell to transmit signal making both more
efficient.

For decades, conventional science has held the position that 'the mind' is merely an
illusion, a side effect of electrochemical activity in the physical brain. Dr Jeffrey
Schwartz and Sharon Begley's work, The Mind and the Brain, argues exactly the
opposite: that the mind has a life of its own. Dr. Schwartz, a leading researcher in brain
dysfunctions, and Wall Street Journal science columnist Sharon Begley demonstrate
that the human mind is, an independent entity that can shape and control the
functioning of the physical brain. This helps us in the understanding of adult
neuroplasticitythe brain's ability to be rewired not just in childhood, but throughout life.

Although the brain does provide itself with certain intense stimuli (e.g. dreams), when it
comes to functioning in the real world, the brain is a stimulus-based system. It is
dependent on outside sources (through receptors) for stimulation. Light, sound,
vibration, odor, taste, pressure, heat and cold, and gravity would be examples. These
are known as sensory input.

One of these senses, proprioception is the ability to be aware of ones body position in
space body movements in relation to gravity to be aware of body movement in
relationship to itself. This information is collected from the environment in specialized
structures known as mechanoreceptors. They are called receptors because they
receive information. Receptors are specific (for the most part) for different forms of
environmental stimuli. The retina has light receptors, rods, and cones; our ears possess
sound receptors, hair cells, and our joints and muscles possess receptors for movement
and gravity.

The more densely populated the receptor in an area, the more information or stimulation
can be collected from that area. The density of receptors is not equally distributed
throughout the body and represented in the silly picture below called the homunculus.

What has the lips of Mick Jagger, the body of Elijah Wood, the tongue of that guy from
Kiss, and the hands of Michael Jordan? It's the homunculus. Although he looks like he
should be either an exaggerated caricature of the president or someone out of Bill

Cosbys imagination, the homunculus is a representation of the relationship between
human body parts and the area of the brain responsible for them.

The homunculus comes in two varieties - sensory and motor. The sensory homunculus
shows how much brain power is dedicated to sensing different body parts. It looks weird
because the relative proportions of the body parts are not about physical size, but the
number of related neural connections in the brain. The motor homunculus depicts the
size of body parts based on the complexity of movements they can perform. When you
think about how complex our hand and facial movements are, you can see why they're
so big on the homunculus.

This is important as we develop specific brain-based therapies to purposefully and
specifically stimulate neuronal centers. Firing receptors, fires the brain; given there are
no lesions along the pathway, receptor stimulation is essential. Receptor stimulation is
how our brain is mapped from day one! Babies that receive no physical stimulate
(touch, love) fail to thrive not just because they emotionally fail but because of brain
neuron death. Tummy time, setting your baby on a blanket on the floor has a distinct
purpose to stimulate brain function. I tell new parents to use their babys feet and hands
as worry stones, rubbing them constantly. You will have smarter and more well-
balanced children should you purposefully stimulate skin receptors.


However, most environmental stimuli are not constant, not always available to stimulate
the brain in the same way. Light, sound, taste, and temperature are all of variable
frequency, duration, and intensity. For example, sunlight is only present during the day.
The only constant source of stimulation from the environment is gravity. There is a
purpose for this. We said that neurons need both stimuli and fuel and should there be
just constant stimuli, fuel sources may run dry. Receptors also need a break.

Because gravity steadily exerts force on us whether we are standing, sitting, or lying
down, and because we are perpetually forced to resist it by using muscles and joints,
the amount of time it stimulates our brain based on frequency and duration is much
greater than that of any other stimulus. Every movement we make stimulates the brain.
Simply standing upright involves responses that not only allow us to see further, but
also requires us to constantly resist gravity, even when we are standing still. This simple
condition steadfastly increases stimulation to our brain therefore, accelerating its
growth.

There are numerous studies on astronauts in zero gravity conditions that explain the
absence of this constant stimulus as space madness. Without constant stimulation the
brain turns to mush. Neuroplasticity is so interesting; gravity and the effect it has on
your muscle spindles and joints also accounts for
healing tissue and bone growth. If a person
fractures their leg and (as was the usual practice
for decades) they are told to be as immobile as
possible, they dont allow muscles to fire against
gravity and healing is prolonged. Lessons: Get
up and move; and dont let your children grow up
to be astronauts.

Are Brain Problems Getting
Worse?

Research has reported that the incidence of autism spectrum disorders and
neurobehavioral developmental disabilities have been steadily on the rise. It also has
been reported that todays children, in general, seem to have shorter attention span,
decreasing scores in reading and language skills, and more impulsive behavior than
they had as recently as ten years ago. Some studies show that these problems are
becoming epidemic. Are they simply a result of poorer parenting skills, a greater number
of dual income families, more unsupervised children, and a degenerative home
environment or are these pieces that may play into a larger problem?

Researchers have also been noting, both clinically and as reported in the literature, an
increasing number of adults being diagnosed with Frontal Lobe disorders pointing, at
least in part, that factor greater than sociological influences may be present.
And since nothing whatever
happens to us outside our own
brain; since nothing hurt us or
gives us pleasure except within the
brain, the supreme importance of
being able to control what goes on
in that mysterious brain is patent.
! Arnold Bennett, How to Live on
24 Hours a Day

Frontal Lobe disorders including Anxiety, Depression, ADD, ADHD and autism itself as
well as other learning disabilities are growing at a staggering rate in the United States.
In January of 2001, Newsday reported that 1 in 10 U.S. children have some sort of
mental health problem, but less than 1 in 5 of them are being treated. This claim was
made by the then Surgeon General of the United States, David Satcher, and reported in
the same article.

A recent Wed MD article by Kathleen Doheny writes, The number of children
diagnosed with autism or related disorders has grown at what many call an alarming
rate. In the 1970s and 1980s, about one out of every 2,000 children had autism.
Today, the CDC estimates that one in 150 8-year-olds in the U.S. has an autism
spectrum disorder, or ASD.

An article in March, 2013 USA Today stated, Rates of all forms of autism in the U.S.
may be substantially higher than previously estimated, according to a new government
report that found that 1 out of every 50 school-age children roughly one on every
school bus has the condition. That's dramatically higher than the 1 in 88 announced
by a different government agency last year.

Alzheimer's disease has become the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
In 2013, Alzheimer's will cost the nation $203 billion. This number is expected to rise to
$1.2 trillion by 2050. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia.

Lyme disease, another neurological disorder, is the most commonly reported
vectorborne illness in the United States in 2012, it was the 7th most common
Nationally Notifiable disease. Chronic Lyme disease (CLD) is a common, usually
undiagnosed, cause of neurological dysfunction. According to current statistics, about
300,000 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the US each yearabout 10
times higher than officially reported. While many still attribute Lyme transmission
exclusively to ticks, the bacteria may also be spread by other insects, including
mosquitoes, spiders, fleas, and mites. Diseases, such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis,
cardiomyopathy, gastritis, and chronic fatigue, are all turning out to be expressions of
chronic infections like CLD.

NBC News recently reported that, for 40 million
Americans, anxiety disorders are debilitating and
omnipresent, and women are twice as likely to
suffer as men. A 2010 article in Psychology
Today reported that, Rates of depression and anxiety among young people in America
have been increasing steadily for the past fifty to seventy years. Today five to eight
times as many high school and college students meet the criteria for diagnosis of major
depression and/or an anxiety disorder as was true half a century or more ago. They
went on to say that, One thing we know about anxiety and depression is that they
correlate significantly with people's sense of control or lack of control over their own
lives. This is a Dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex function, i.e. it is a problem of the frontal
lobes connection to the deeper brain centers!

Silencing the brain's ramblings gives
the chance for wonderful thoughts to
bloom.
! Steven Redhead, The Solution

Numerous conditions that are reportedly left untreated include depression, considered
one of the most common, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Satcher stated, Short of those diagnosable problems are
problems that children have in their development and functioning very early. He
suggested an overhaul of how mental health in children should be handled from training
teachers and doctors, to better recognizing and understand these disorders, to doing
more research and translating that research into effective treatment programs. Satcher
is also quoted, In any given year it is estimated that less than 1 in 5 of the children
suffering from mental illness receive needed treatment.

Unfortunately, current treatment typically consists of mind-altering medications. Those
unfortunate enough to be in Satchers treated group are often left in a worse
predicament than those left untreated. We must address the cause. We must
overhaul our very definitions of care. While mood and mind-altering medications may
be necessary for the temporary cessation of acute symptomology, they are not even
addressing the reason for the brain imbalance and may even create a greater
imbalance.

We can no longer ignore the problem. U.S. News and World Report recently stated that
one in every six children in America suffers from problems such as autism, aggression,
dyslexia, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. New York, the number of children
purportedly with learning disabilities jumped 55 percent from 132,000 to 204,000
between 1983 and 1996. California, reported cases of autism rose 210 percent from
3,864 to 100,995 between 1987 and 1998. "In the past decade, there has been a
significant surge in the number of children diagnosed with autism throughout California,
states the article. Even those who argue that it is the diagnosis of ASDs that has risen
due to a heightened awareness dont dispute that the problem is indeed growing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 88
children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This data comes
from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which
estimated the number of 8-year-old children with ASDs living in 14 communities
throughout the United States in 2008. This new estimate marks a 23% increase since
our last report in 2009, and a 78% increase since our first report in 2007. (Taken
directly from the CDC website)

Researchers say severe mental illness is more common among college students than it
was a decade ago, with most young people seeking treatment for depression and
anxiety. A study presented at the American Psychological Association found that the
number of students on psychiatric medicines increased more than 10 percentage points
over the last 10 years. (Depression On The Rise In College Students by Patti
Neighmond, January 17, 2011)

Peter Gray in an article entitled, Freedom to Learn - The roles of play and curiosity as
foundations for learning, states, Rates of depression and anxiety among young people
in America have been increasing steadily for the past fifty to seventy years. Today five
to eight times as many high school and college students meet the criteria for diagnosis
of major depression and/or an anxiety disorder as was true half a century or more ago.

This increased psychopathology is not the result of changed diagnostic criteria; it holds
even when the measures and criteria are constant.

The most recent evidence for the sharp generational rise in young people's depression,
anxiety, and other mental disorders comes from a just-released study headed by Jean
Twenge at San Diego State University. Twenge and her colleagues took advantage of
the fact that the MMPI--the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, a
questionnaire used to assess a variety of mental disorders--has been given to large
samples of college students throughout the United States going as far back as 1938,
and the MMPI-A (the version used with younger adolescents) has been given to
samples of high school students going as far back as 1951.
These results are consistent with other studies, using a variety of indices, which also
point to dramatic increases in anxiety and depression--in children as well as in
adolescents and young adults--over the last five or more decades. Unfortunately, most
individuals with such disorders and the health care professionals treating them do not
have a good understanding of the etiology of the dysfunction. They do not understand
what is wrong with their brain and often blame themselves, genetics, society, or think of
themselves as bad people.


Chapter Three

So whats Wrong?

Things arent always so obvious! But the problem doesnt go away by pretending that it
doesnt exist. Drugs may numb the symptoms but they rarely correct the cause.


What are the causes? Is there one secret supplement that we are deficient in? Is it all
blamed on vaccinations, medications, parents, schools? There are no easy answers
but, most assuredly, there are a multitude of factors that play into the problem.

Functional Delays

It doesnt take a social scientist to observe that children spend less time out on their
bikes or roller skates, climbing trees or playing ball then a generation ago. They are
inside watching TV, playing video or computer games, on Facebook and substituting
false social networking for the real thing. Adults fall into the same trap. A generation
ago, people were intimately connected to a church, a club, and generally more social at
work. The computer revolution has isolated us, segregated us, and turned us into left-
brain stimulation junkies.

Parents dont talk to, read to, or spend time with their children as much as they did ten
years ago. The stresses of modern day keep up with the Jones mentality and the
seeming obsession Americans have with new cars and the latest toys has changed so
dramatically over the past two generations that it is an oddity for a family to be without a
cell phone, ipod, Wii, or the like. The baby-sitter for both our children and our own
deficiency in socialization is often the television, video games or the computer. Right-
brain, imaginative play and creative
communication falls by the wayside.

Jane Healy in her book "Endangered Minds, Why
Children Don't Think and What We Can Do About
It", quotes many interviews with teachers and
some interesting studies with startling statistics.
As an educator and administrator with 30 years experience, she comments that modern
children seem to have changing brains. Healey suggests that our current crisis in
education and the growing problem with behavior has deep roots. Healy argues that
contemporary society systematically under-nourishes the growing brains of our children
at key developmental junctures. The predominance of two income families leads to a
pattern of haphazard child care and a diminishing the number of opportunities for
children to learn basic conversation skills. Television and video games absorb the time
of children to the exclusion of reading and other forms of play, preempting important
exercises in imagination and interactive communication. Even the much revered
Sesame Street encourages a short attention span and fails to address the real
educational needs of preschoolers. Likewise, trendy educational experiments designed
to accelerate learning are often out of phase with the needs of young brains. She
argues that poverty exacerbates these problems for a growing number of children. As a
result, our society fails to foster the physical development of young brains necessary for
sophisticated command of language, analytic rigor, and sustained thought. In addition
to her attack on Sesame Street, Healy offers a clear challenge to true believers in
phonics, cultural literacy, and other popular panaceas. She also expands the scope of
analysis beyond the boundaries of the schoolyard, recognizing that the process of
education involves broader social and life-style questions.
I never came upon any of my
discoveries through the process of
rational thinking.
-Albert Einstein

Healey writes, Children were likable, fun to be with, intuitive, and often amazingly self
aware. Today, in her estimation, they seem harder to teach, less tuned to verbal
material both spoken and written. She discovered, many admitted they didnt read very
much, sometimes even the required homework. They struggle with or avoid writing
assignments while teachers anguish over the results. One of the teachers she
interviewed stated, I feel like children have one foot out the door with whatever they are
doing, they are incredibly easily distracted. I think there may have been a shift in the last
five years.

Teachers interviewed by Healy felt that children today come to class with fewer social
skills, less language ability, less ability to listen, and less motor ability and that in
general, a frightening majority of childrens attention spans have degenerated over
recent years. Objective support for these reported conclusions is supported in the
literature by numerous studies. One may conclude that sedentary lifestyles, increased
television/computer viewing, and busy parents at least are partial causes of these
dramatic statistical changes in cognitive, motor, and academic performance of present
day western school aged children.

Developmental Profile

The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential has created a Developmental Profile as a
delineation of the significant stages of child brain development through which children pass as
they progress from birth to six years. The purpose of The Developmental Profile is to reduce the
thousands of accomplishments that a child enjoys to those functions that are
actually causes rather than mere results of other functions. It is a clear and reliable tool for
measuring the degree of ability or disabilityand rate of progressof brain-injured and well
children.
In the past, it was believed that this progression was predestined and unalterable as a result of
genetic inheritance superimposed upon a rigid schedule of time and sequence.

Brain Stage Time Frame Visual Competence Auditory
Competence
Tactile
Competence
VII
Sophisticated
Cortex
Superior 36 mon.
Average 72 mon.
Slow 144 mon.
Reading with total understanding Understanding of
complete vocabulary &
proper sentences
Tactile
Identification of
objects
VI
Primitive Cortex
Superior 18 mon.
Average 36 mon.
Slow
72 mon.
Identification of visual symbols and
letters within experience
Understanding of 2000
words and simple
sentences
Ability to
determine
characteristics of
objects by tactile
means
V
Early Cortex
Superior
9 mon.
Average 18 mon.
Slow
36 mon.
Differentiation of similar but unlike
simple visual symbols
Understanding of 10 to 25
words and two couplets
Tactile
differentiation of
similar but unlike
objects
IV
Initial Cortex
Superior 6 mon.
Average 12 mon.
Slow
Convergence of vision resulting in
simple depth perception
Understanding of two
words of speech
Tactile
understanding of
the third

The work of the staff of The Institutes from 1940 to the present has shown that this is untrue and
that the order in which the significant stages take place is a function of brain development, as
successively higher brain stages are brought into play. The time schedule is highly variable and
depends, not upon genetic factors, but rather upon the frequency, intensity and duration of the
stimuli provided to the brain by the child's environment, which is notably and most often his
family.
The purpose and goal of taking both children and adults that have brain-based signs and
symptoms through the steps of development are to re-train that brain, taking advantage of
neuroplasticity. You are literally re-training or re-mapping neural pathways. This is the essence
of Brain-Based Therapies.

24 mon. dimension in
objects which
appear to be flat
III
Midbrain and
Subcortical Areas
Superior 3.5 mon.
Average 7 mon.
Slow
14 mon.
Appreciation of detail within a
configuration
Appreciation of
meaningful sounds
Appreciation of
gnostic sensation
II
Brain Stem and
Early Subcortical
Areas
Superior 1 mon.
Average 2.5 mon.
Slow
5 mon.
Outline perception Vital response to
threatening sounds
Perception of vital
sensation
I
Early Brain Stem
and Cord
Superior Birth to .5 mon.
Average Birth to 1 mon.
Slow Birth to 2 mon.
Light reflex Startle reflex Babinski reflex
Brain Stage Time Frame Mobility
Competence
Language
Competence
Manual
Competence
VII
Sophisticated
Cortex
Superior 36 mon.
Average 72 mon.
Slow 144 mon.
Using a leg in a skilled role
which is consistent with the
dominant hemisphere
Complete vocabulary and proper
sentence structure
Using a hand to write
which is consistent
with the dominant
hemisphere
VI
Primitive Cortex
Superior 18 mon.
Average 36 mon.
Slow
72 mon.
Walking and running in
complete cross pattern
2000 words of language and short
sentences
Bimanual function
with one hand in a
skilled role
V
Early Cortex
Superior
9 mon.
Average 18 mon.
Slow
36 mon.
Walking with arms freed from
the primary balance role
10 to 25 words of language and
two couplets
Cortical opposition
bilaterally and
simultaneously
IV
Initial Cortex
Superior 6 mon.
Average 12 mon.
Slow
24 mon.
Walking with arms used in a
primary balance role most
frequently at or above
shoulder height
Two words of speech used
spontaneously and meaningfully
Cortical opposition in
either hand
III
Midbrain and
Subcortical Areas
Superior 3.5 mon.
Average 7 mon.
Slow
14 mon.
Creeping on hands and
knees, culminating in cross
pattern creeping
Creation of meaningful sounds Prehensile grasp
II
Brain Stem and
Early Subcortical
Areas
Superior 1 mon.
Average 2.5 mon.
Slow
5 mon.
Crawling in the prone position
culminating in cross pattern
crawling
Vital crying in response to threats
of life
Vital release
I
Early Brain Stem
and Cord
Superior Birth to .5
mon.
Average Birth to 1
mon.
Slow Birth to 2 mon.
Movement of arms and legs
without bodily movement
Birth cry and crying Grasp reflex

The above table represents the stages of both sensory and motor development, as described
in The Institutes Developmental Profile which was developed by the Institutes and all credit
belongs to them.

When you look over the above charts, you will see that the two charts together are divided into
six columns (three columns per chart).

They are:

1. Mobility competence (gross motor movement)
2. Language competence (speech)
3. Manual competence (use of the hands)
4. Visual competence (seeing)
5. Auditory competence (hearing)
6. Tactile competence (feeling)

The first three functions are motor functions found on the second chart; the last three
are sensory functions from the first chart. The motor cortex is found primarily in the frontal lobe
and the sensory is primarily parietal lobe. Both left and right frontal and parietal lobes function in
balance to produce a normal developmental progression.

We begin to understand that, in the course of development, should a child experience any
source of inflammation in a neural area, developmental progression may cease.

For each of the columns above, there are seven different colored rows. The bottom row, red,
represents the childs brain function at birth. For example, in the manual column is the grasp
reflex. In the visual column is the light reflex. In the auditory column is the startle reflex.
The next row, orange, represents the next stage of brain development (achieved in the average
child by the age of 2.5 months). For example, in the visual column we will find the ability to see
outlines. In the language column, we will find the ability to cry more seriously in response to
things that the baby finds threatening. The rows keep going, to yellow (seven
months), green (twelve months), blue (eighteen months), indigo (three years), and lastly
violet (six years). (credit given to The Institutes, see their website for more information and to
order materials)

Though these charts may be listed as milestones, every child is unique and ONLY competent
neurological and metabolic testing adequately determines problems and causes.

The most important thing to remember is this: IT ALL CAN BE CORRECTED!

The Metabolic Connection

Based on reports from caregivers, case studies, and observation of patients with
schizophrenia and children with severe behavioral disorders, Dohan hypothesized
(Dohan et al., 1969; 1984; Dohan, 1966a; 1966b; 1969; 1970; 1979; 1980a; 1980b;
1988) that gluten and dairy foods might worsen these behaviors. He noted that in

many cases, a restricted diet could lead to significant improvement or recovery from
these disorders.

Dr. Maios Hadjivassiliou of the United Kingdom, a recognized world authority on gluten
sensitivity, has reported in the journal, The Lancet, that "gluten sensitivity can be
primarily and at times, exclusively a neurological disease." That is, people can manifest
gluten sensitivity by having issues with brain function without any gastrointestinal
problems whatsoever. Dr. Hadjivassiliou indicates that the antibodies that a person has
when they are gluten sensitive can be directly and uniquely toxic to the brain through
what has become known neurologically as the gluteo-morphine receptors. These are
found in the gut and fire directly to the same areas that morphine do. Therefore people
with gluten sensitivities are affected primarily in the brain, not the gut.

Since his original investigations in 1996, the recognition that gluten sensitivity can lead
to disorders of brain function has led to a virtual explosion of scientific papers describing
this relationship. A simple Google scholar search will reveal over 2000 peer-reviewed,
scientifically based research articles on the effects of gluten and gluten peptides on the
brain so tell your ignorant doctor who says its a fad diet to leave his golf clubs in the
car and crack open a research journal and move into the 21
st
century.

Researchers in Israel have noted neurological
problems in 51 percent of children with gluten
sensitivity and further, describe a link between
gluten sensitivity and attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As authors
in a recent issue of the journal, Pediatrics, stated
in their research, "This study suggests that the
variability of neurologic disorders that occur in
celiac disease is broader than previously
reported and includes softer and more common neurologic disorders including chronic
headache, developmental delay, hypotonia and learning disorders or ADHD."

The link between gluten sensitivity and problems with brain function, including learning
disabilities, difficulty staying on task and even memory dysfunction, is actually not that
difficult to understand. Gluten sensitivity is caused by elevated levels of antibodies
against a component of gluten, the protein gliadin. This antibody (anti-gliadin antibody)
combines with gliadin when a person is exposed to any gluten containing food like
wheat, barley, spelt, malt, or rye. Testing for the antibody can be performed in any
doctor's office through either doing a stool test (through Enterolab) or a blood test for
the gliadin peptides (through Cyrex Labs). When the antibody combines with this
protein, specific genes are turned on in a special type of immune cell in the body.

When these genes are turned on, inflammatory chemicals are created called cytokines,
which are directly detrimental to brain function. In fact, elevated cytokines are seen in
such devastating conditions as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple
sclerosis and even autism. Basically, the brain does not like inflammation and responds
quite negatively to the presence of cytokines. Another problem with anti-gliadin antibody
is that it can directly combine with specific proteins found in the brain. Specific brain
The mind is its own place, and in
itself
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of
heaven.
-John Milton (1608-1674), Paradise
Lost

proteins can look like the gliadin protein found in gluten-containing foods and the anti-
gliadin antibody just can't tell the difference. This direct role of anti-gliadin antibody in
combining with specific proteins in the brain has been described for decades and again
leads to the formation of cytokines, the chemical mediators of inflammation. This is an
example of turning on genes that ultimately function in a negative way in relation to
brain health and function.

The 10 Most Common Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease

Brain fog
Fatigue
Headaches and/or migraines
GI distress such as: abdominal pain and bloating, gas, queasiness, acid reflux,
vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea
Weight loss or weight gain
Depression, irritability, listlessness, and emotional instability
Joint pain, tingling, or numbness in the legs, arms, and hands
Acne, eczema, and other skin rashes
Hair loss
Hashimotos disease and other autoimmune disorders

Jane Anderson, in her 2012 article titled, Gluten-Related Neurological Symptoms and
Conditions writes, Neurological illnesses such as epilepsy, depression and anxiety also
are common in those who react to gluten. In addition, a serious autoimmune condition
called gluten ataxia affects a small number of people.

Finally, there are some hints that conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
also may be affected by gluten intake in a few individuals. However, it's not yet clear
from the research who might be affected, and whether a gluten-free diet can help some
people.

For several years, the biochemical explanation for this phenomenon remained unclear.
However, several other studies seemed to bear out this observation until recently, using
more advanced laboratory technology, researchers revealed abnormal peptides
(portions of a gluten protein complex) in the urine of schizophrenics and autistics.

Peptides are pieces of proteins that are not completely broken down into individual
amino acids. Think of entire gluten protein (gliadin) as a brick wall. What is supposed to
happen to every protein consumed is that the brick wall is broken into its individual
bricks (amino acids) so they can cross the gut wall. This is what is known as digestion.

Reichelt has observed that these peptides, which are several amino acids long, have
sequences that match those of opioid peptides (casomorphin and gliadomorphin). The
known dietary sources of these opiate peptides are casein (from milk) and gliadin or
gluten (from cereal grains). He has since conducted several studies examining this
finding (Knivsberg et al., 2002; 2001; Pedersen et al., 1999; Reichelt et al., 1996; Seim
& Reichelt, 1995), as have several other researchers (Garvey, 2002; Buckley, 1998),
including Paul Shattock (Whiteley & Shattock, 2002) in England. The best evidence for

this correlation lies in the many case reports of improvement or recovery of children with
ASD on this diet.

For those following the science of the gut microbiome, immune-brain and gut-brain
relationships, its easy to understand these relationships. Our immune system and our
so-called gut bugs the billions of microorganisms that live in our GI tract have huge
impacts on our health. There are strong connections between the immune system and
the brain, which are mediated through multiple physiological symptoms, senior author
Laura Cousino Klein, associate professor of biobehavioral health and human
development and family studies, said in a statement. A majority of the pain receptors in
the body are located in the gut, so by adhering to
a gluten-free, casein-free (GF/DF) diet, youre
reducing inflammation and discomfort that may
alter brain processing, making the body more
receptive to ASD therapies.

In a new Penn State survey of nearly 400 parents
of ASD children on a GF/DF diet, it seemed to
make a difference what choices parents made. Children who eliminated both gluten
the protein in wheat, rye, spelt, malt, and barley as well as the milk protein (casein) from
their diet, and who stuck with it six months or more, seemed to do the best. Gluten is in
more than wheat, and casein is in more than milk and cheese, so this takes hard work
and discipline, but for many it seems to pay off. Some parents of children with autism
as well as adults with autism themselves, report even greater benefit from eliminating
fast-metabolizing starches, like sugars, grains and starchy vegetables including
potatoes, which may feed noxious gut bugs.

According to a paper published in Natural News, Approximately 10 percent of people
with Celiac disease develop neurologic symptoms, according to the Center for
Peripheral Neuropathy. Ataxia describes a neurologic condition characterized by jerky
movements and an awkward gait. Gluten ataxia specifically describes a neurologic
condition caused by a gluten sensitivity that leads to a wide range of symptoms,
including:

Difficultly concentrating
Loss of balance
Frequent falls
Visual disturbances
Trouble walking
Tremors
Trouble judging distances

In people with gluten sensitivity, eating foods with the gluten protein triggers an
autoimmune reaction. The body attacks the gluten with antibodies in the same way that
antibodies attack viruses. This damages the intestines. Intestinal damage inhibits
absorption of nutrients, often leading to nutrient deficiencies.
The greatest discovery of my
generation is that man can alter his
life simply by altering his attitude of
mind.
-William James (1842-1910)

Vitamin deficiencies could (also) be to blame for gluten ataxia, according to an article in
the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of Living Without magazine. Another explanation is that
something in the brain is similar enough to gluten that the antibodies released to attack
gluten also attack the brain.

Neuropathy, or peripheral neuropathy, describes a range of disorders characterized by
nerve damage to one or more nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. Often the
cause of the neuropathy is unknown, though autoimmune diseases and vitamin
deficiencies are some of the potential causes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Gluten
neuropathy is when the autoimmune response is the root cause of the nerve damage.

A study published in Muscle & Nerve journal in December 2006 found that participants
with neuropathy who followed a gluten-free diet showed significant improvement in
symptoms after one year. The control group reported worsening of symptoms. A few
years ago I had a young female patient with idiopathic foot drop (loss of upward flexion
of her foot) noticed by frequent tripping on the soccer field. After a complete
examination process, I was surprised that gluten sensitivity was her only finding and
elimination of all gluten and possible gluten-contaminated foods completely resolved her
problems.

It is also thought that food peptides (partially digested pieces of proteins that never
should have passed the gut wall) might be responsible for toxic effects at the level of the
central nervous system by interacting with neurotransmitters. For more information on
gluten sensitivities and celiac disease, I suggest you visit: www. theglutensyndrome.net
and www.thedr.com.

The multi-headed monster of food sensitivities are all because of BRAIN
INFLAMMATION. Nutritional therapies are varied. There are dietary changes, nutritional
supplements, herbal medicines, and homeopathy that are the most commonly used and
accepted forms of therapy for children and adults. It is important that proper testing be
done to determine the individuals specific source of inflammation.

Food Allergies, Behavior and Gut Health

There has been extensive research examining the brain-intestinal connection. It is fairly
well documented that the GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue) is associated with an
individuals absorption and immune responsiveness. It is also thought that in various
individuals who damage these barrier cells can become overly sensitive to normally
good foods, end up with specific nutritional deficiencies, and suffer from poor brain
regulation. The gastrointestinal system, as a result, becomes less efficient at filtering
allergens and larger molecules that may be associated with allergic responses pass
through into the blood. This has been termed intestinal permeability or leaky gut.

The lining of the intestines is covered with villi that resemble shag carpeting. Its purpose
is to give an increased surface area for nutrient absorption. The cells also act as a

barrier that normally only allows properly digested fats, proteins, and starches to pass
through and enter the bloodstream. It allows substances to pass in several ways.

Chloride, potassium, magnesium, sodium and free fatty acids diffuse through intestinal
cell membranes. Amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, minerals, and vitamins also cross
through cells, but they do it by another mechanism called active transport. There's a
third way substances can pass through. The spaces in between the cells that line the
intestinal villi are normally sealed connections. These tight junctions are called
desmosomes. When the intestinal lining becomes damaged, the junctions loosen and
allow unwanted larger molecules in the intestines to pass through.

The barrier has been breached. These unwanted substances are seen by the immune
system as foreign (because they aren't normally present in blood) and an enemy attack
ensues. Heres what you need to know about the primary function of whats called the
initial, TH1 response of the immune system it KILLS things. Your immune system
turns-on against foreign invaders to do one thing kill them. This is your defense
system that is to protect you from pathogens. Can
you sense a problem here? Are peptides from
gluten or casein living organisms (pathogens) that
will be killed by an immune attack?

This becomes a major problem. In an immune reaction, the initial, killer cell response (a
TH1 reaction) is to kill the pathogen. Should the victory not be achieved, the TH1
response suppresses and a TH2 response fire to trigger a production of antibodies
against said pathogen. In leaky gut syndrome invasion of non-living substances
(continue with our gluten example but other invaders can be equally a problem) fire a
TH1 reaction that will never result in death of the antigen (we call anything that sparks a
TH1 response an antigen in an immune reaction) because ITS NOT ALIVE.

It makes sense to me your immune system can be the epitome of health and it will
never win if its trying to kill something that can never die! Then, if your healthy immune
system (TH2 response) makes antibodies to the peptides, you are in big trouble. Now
youll have a sustained immune attack against the peptides where it finds them.

When the intestinal lining becomes further damaged, even larger substances, such as
disease-causing bacteria (like Helicobacter pylori), other undigested food particles, and
toxins, pass directly through the damaged cells. Again, the immune system is alarmed
and antibodies and substances called cytokines are released and the cycle continues!

Chemo Brain

As the American Cancer Society states, For years cancer survivors have worried
about, joked about, and been frustrated by the mental cloudiness they sometimes notice
before, during, and after cancer treatment commonly called chemo brain. Patients have
been aware of chemo brain for some time, but only recently have studies been done
that could help to explain it.

I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain
cells
-Dr. Seuss

Doctors have known for years that radiation treatment to the brain can cause thinking
and memory problems. Recently, they have found that chemotherapy is linked to some
of the same kinds of problems. Research shows that some cancer drugs can cause
certain kinds of changes in the brain. But it also shows that chemo and radiation arent
the only things that can cause thinking and memory problems in people with cancer.

Though the brain usually recovers over time, the sometimes vague yet distressing
mental changes cancer patients notice are real not imagined. They might last a short
time, or they might go on for years. These changes can make people unable to go back
to their school, work, or social activities, or make it so that it takes a lot of mental effort
to do so. Chemo brain changes affect everyday life for many people, and more research
is needed to help prevent and cope with them.

Here are just a few examples of what patients call chemo brain:

Forgetting things that they usually have no trouble recalling (memory lapses)
Trouble concentrating (they cant focus on what theyre doing, have a short
attention span, may space out)
Trouble remembering details like names, dates, and sometimes larger events
Trouble multi-tasking, like answering the phone while cooking, without losing
track of one task (they are less able to do more than one thing at a time)
Taking longer to finish things (disorganized, slower thinking and processing)
Trouble remembering common words (unable to find the right words to finish a
sentence)
Doctors and researchers call chemo brain mild cognitive impairment. Most define it as
being unable to remember certain things and having trouble finishing tasks or learning
new skills. But some doctors call it chemo brain only if it doesnt go away or get better
over time. How long it lasts is a major factor in how much it affects a persons life.
(www.cancer.org also see www.stopfightingcancer.com )

Chemotherapy is a poison, plain and simple. The protective barrier that is supposed to
keep dangerous toxins and pathogens from entering the brain (the blood-brain barrier)
is made up of astrocytes that are damaged by, wait for it!.chemicals! Chemotherapy
patients that have already damaged blood-brain barriers from previous toxic exposure
(GMOs, pesticides, herbicides, additives, excitotoxins!) have a greater susceptibility to
neurological effects from chemotherapy. Those entering chemotherapy with an intact
brain barrier will, most assuredly, have damaged to the barrier from the chemo.

Neurofeedback Cures Chemo Brain

Social psychologist Jean Alvarez, a breast cancer survivor, struggled with the condition
for years. In 2007, the Lakewood resident turned to neurofeedback when nothing else
seemed to help her get rid of the two symptoms she said were "left over" from
chemotherapy treatment that ended years earlier, reports Cleveland.com, as Sun News
publication in an article titled, Neurofeedback helps relieve chemo brain symptoms,
Cleveland researcher finds.


Ill quote this interesting piece as it was inspirational to me and influential in our decision
to invest in this equipment for our clinic. Electroencephalogram, or EEG, biofeedback,
otherwise known as neurofeedback, is a noninvasive treatment that provides
information on and measures changes in a person's brain-wave activity. The brain "self-
corrects" by using the feedback to reorganize.

Traditional neurofeedback pinpoints a specific area of the brain in need of correction.
But no one knows what the electrical "signature" of chemo brain is, so Alvarez used
another type of neurofeedback equipment that addresses the brain as an integrated
system, making the specific location of the problem less important.

Resistant to the suggestion of her physician at the time to undergo neuropsychological
testing, Alvarez instead decided to pursue neurofeedback after revisiting something she
had previously read about the technique.

Not only did Alvarez find relief, but after 10 treatments, she felt as good as she had
before she began chemotherapy. That led her to
design a research study to see if her success
could be replicated. She hoped to provide relief to
others more quickly than if they waited for
symptoms to dissipate on their own, months or years later.

The small study looked at the impact of neurofeedback on lessening post-cancer
cognitive impairment, or PCCI. Her study was published online April 12 in the journal
Integrative Cancer Therapies. The type of neurofeedback employed in the study was a
brief interruption in music that the study subject was listening to. This newer approach
to neurofeedback, Alvarez wrote, trains the whole brain by having participants "let go"
instead of engaging actively or consciously with the instrument providing that feedback.

Alvarez, director of research at the newly incorporated Cleveland-based Applied Brain
Research Foundation of Ohio, began enrolling breast cancer patients for the study in
early 2010. Twenty-three women, who ranged in age from 43 to 70 and who had
completed treatment for breast cancer, received biofeedback in 45-minute sessions,
twice a week for 10 weeks. The time from the last chemotherapy treatment to the start
of the biofeedback ranged from six months to five years.

The study participants were given four different self-reporting tests for 10 weeks that
measured cognitive function; fatigue, energy level and quality of life; sleep quality and
disturbances; and somatization (when mental factors such as stress cause physical
symptoms), depression and anxiety. Over a second 10-week period, the participants
received neurofeedback twice a week, for 33 minutes a session, and continued the self-
reporting tests. Four weeks after the last neurofeedback session, the women completed
one final self-reporting test.

What Alvarez found was that the treatment did help relieve symptoms of PCCI, or
chemo brain, and it did help other patients return to the level of function they had prior
to starting chemotherapy.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
-Old English Proverb

Chemo brain symptoms were reversed in 21 of the 23 women.

"I was hoping to see all of those good results, but I'm not sure I was expecting to see
them," Alvarez said. "Almost everyone improved and returned to normal levels. That
was surprising and gratifying."

Not all of the study participants showed benefits right away, or at the same rate, she
said. Some started noticing a change after a half-dozen sessions, while a few didn't
begin seeing improvement until toward the end of their participation, Alvarez said.

For some women, sleep quality improved first; in others, symptoms of depression
lessened, she said, adding, "It's a pretty individual process."

A real difference for one patient

Diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2008, Dianne Borowski of Bay Village completed
chemotherapy in July 2009. In February 2010 she contacted Alvarez and enrolled in the
study soon afterward.

"I was having quite a bit of it [chemo brain]," said Borowski, 71, who was plagued by
memory and sleep troubles. When she heard about the trial and that it was looking for
volunteers, "I thought, 'My goodness. This is
wonderful.' "

Relief from the sessions was not instantaneous,
she said. But as time went by, she started to
notice a real difference. She started misplacing
things less frequently. Her sleep improved. She no longer had to search for words to
express herself. "I was amazed at the process and how it started to work," she said.
Borowski says her chemo brain flares up occasionally if she's under a lot of stress, but
so far it hasn't returned to her pre-chemotherapy levels.

Researchers continue to shed light on the effect that chemo brain -- given that name
only in the past dozen years or so -- has on cancer survivors.

Last week, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published online a study from the
University of California, Los Angeles. Researchers who evaluated 189 early-stage
breast cancer patients post-treatment (radiation and/or chemotherapy) found a strong
link between patients' self-reported complaints of changes in memory and thinking and
data from neuropsychological testing that showed those changes.

A study that appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in early 2012 found lingering
cognitive effects of chemotherapy in some breast cancer patients as long as 20 years
after treatment.

Over the summer at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting,
Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute oncologist Dr. Halle Moore presented the
It is the heart and not the brain
That to the highest doth attain.
-Longfellow, The Building of the
Ship

results of a small pilot study that showed the EEG to be a good measuring tool in
documenting the impact of chemo brain on changes in brain function.

"Chemo brain is real," said Dr. Fremonta Meyer, a psychiatrist at the Dana Farber
Cancer Institute in Boston and co-author of Alvarez's study who helped interpret the
data.

Among the patients she sees are those with post-cancer cognitive problems that may
sound like the effects of normal aging or menopause. But difficulty finding words, short-
term memory loss, problems sleeping and the inability to multitask effectively are all
things that can be the result of chemo brain, she said.

One of the big shortcomings in the literature dealing with chemo brain has been the lack
of solutions to the defined problem, Meyer said.
"We now have another intervention that we can
[potentially] offer to patients, which I think is
huge," she said.

It wasn't just a placebo effect

While questions can be raised about whether the soothing qualities of the
neurofeedback worked as a placebo and served to calm the participants or whether it
was the neurofeedback that led to cognitive improvements, the researchers maintain
that the results are hard to attribute to a placebo effect alone.

They point to several factors that underscore the validity and reliability of
neurofeedback, among them:

Analysis that focused on improvement following the self-reporting tests, after a
placebo effect would have been present.

Measuring the neurofeedback impact took place before the start of each
session, typically three to four days after the previous session, so that responses
didn't just reflect short-term effects.

Improvement was measured in four distinct clusters of symptoms -- cognitive
function, fatigue, sleep and emotional well-being -- which were not highly
connected at the start of the testing.

A follow-up study with a control group will provide a definitive answer, said Alvarez, who
added that she hoped any future studies would involve a larger, more diverse
population of cancer survivors, and incorporate pre- and post-functional MRI and
neuropsychological tests that would confirm the study's findings.

She also hopes future studies will answer whether or not genetic markers exist that can
help identify which people would benefit the most from neurofeedback and if
neurofeedback would be able to keep chemo brain from emerging in the first place, if
given in conjunction with standard cancer treatment.
You know you've got to exercise your
brain just like your muscles.
-Will Rogers

Stress and the Brain

Normal stress relies on two key hormones: adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol. Very
simply stated, adrenaline works in the short term, while cortisol has large momentum
and works in the long term. I say normal because the stress response IS normal; it is
a necessary physiologic response to a stimulus, either real or perceived. Yes, the stress
response can also be activated if your brain perceives danger or any kind of threat,
whether real or imagined.
Normally, a stressor triggers the release of adrenaline from your adrenal glands into the
bloodstream to prepare the body for action. As a result, your heart beats faster, you
begin to sweat, your breath becomes shallower, you shunt blood from your organs to
your extremities, and your senses become more acute, all to prepare to run or flee. This
is the so-called fight or flight response to the stressor, and they are wonderful,
necessary and short- term.
This is the key point: stress responses are
supposed to be short term responses to
immediate danger as a protective measure to
avoid calamity. The problem lies in that we
live in a world where lions and bears are
attacking us constantly! The lion of getting the kids to school, completing a project,
pleasing the boss, and meeting ever-pressing deadlines coupled with the bears of
financial pressures and keeping up with the Joneses have never been more apparent
than todays modern society. What was created to be an infrequent response to life-or-
death situations has become daily survival in the concrete jungle of life.
In the chronic stress response, the Sympathetic nervous system is hyper-triggered
causing blood pressures to rise, and all bodily functions deemed unnecessary for
imminent survival to suppress. Brain function is impaired, inflammation increases; there
is no need for a sex-drive, detoxification, or bowel function if a bear is chasing you, you
just need enough blood to your legs to outrun your friend.
The effect of the stress hormones on the brain is survival oriented. The initial surge of
adrenaline can make you feel good, hence, why some Type One individuals are
addicted to stress. Just as your levels of adrenaline start coming down, so rises the
amount of cortisol flowing through your veins. Moreover, cortisol has a much larger
momentum and enduring response than adrenaline, which means that even though it
builds up slowly, it also takes a long time to go back to normal. Worse, should you
continually engage adrenaline stimulation, your levels of cortisol also increase.
All my life, I always wanted to be
somebody. Now I see that I should
have been more specific.
-Lily Tomlin

The combination of the rise of cortisol and the decrease of adrenaline, come the nasty
side-effects of the stress hormones. It is during this time in the cycle you can feel worse,
energy tumbles, anxious, and you may begin to have negative thoughts. You only feel
the negative effects of stress as your body is stressing down and progressing towards a
more relaxed state. When you are building up on adrenaline, in effect stressing up, you
might even be feeling good this can be addictive (the adrenaline rush and the
consequent adrenaline crash).
Cortisol then, gets the bad reputation as being the stress hormone with all the negative
effects. In reality, cortisol plays some very important parts in homeostasis, energy
production and blood sugar regulation. Prolonged cortisol production is the problem as it
throws the glucose balance off in the brain (its primary food source) and leads to
inflammation through a pathway called a TH17 response.
In the very early stages, a chronic stress response will not produce many noticeable
brain symptoms. Functional Medicine testing reveals an adrenal stress response that is
out of whack, a Neurological Exam will show obvious signs, a Brain Map with a
functional EEG will reveal asymmetry, and a Kinesiology Exam may reveal hormone
imbalances long before symptoms drive a patient to see a physician.
Subjectively, you will eventually begin to feel a bit down and tired, especially during
those periods when you are crashing down from the adrenaline, but most people would
still not say that they feel depressed. Also, you would start sleeping a bit less than
usual, having difficulty sleeping and possible waking at night and having a harder time
getting back to sleep or just not feeling quite as fresh when you wake up.
Over time, more damage to neurons continues. Stress starts to take its toll as the
amount of stress hormones increase. This is largely person-dependent, but most people
start having problems with their digestive system, headaches, toxicity issues due to
suppressed pathways, sexual dysfunction, poor sleep and having more frequent
dreams. Since stress depresses the immune system, people also tend to fall sick with
infections more often.
The bottom line is that prolonged stress damages neuronal pathways that may lead to
depression and anxiety disorders; but it is a problem in the brain. Depression, anxiety,
panic attacks, hyperventilation, bouts of psychosis, etc. are frontal lobe issues. As the
insidious buildup of inflammation disables the communication between the prefrontal
cortex deeper brain centers, the deeper centers lose their CEO. The prefrontal cortex is
the parent, the boss, the executive that is supposed to calm the instinctual centers lying
in the archeocortex. Raw emotions stored in the amygdala, hormone balance supplied
by the hippocampus and impulsive behavior from the midbrain left on their own without
the parenting of the prefrontal cortex can be disastrous.
Physiology of Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Panic Attacks!

Neuron death in the hippocampus has been implicated
Neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) may be necessary for recovery
Neurogenesis happens continuously in the healthy adult brain with proper
stimulation and fuel
Most antidepressants require about 2-3 weeks to have an effect and do nothing
for neurogenesis (re-growth of damaged pathways)
Stress may diminish neurogenesis
People under stress may sleep less than usual, produce less IGF (growth factors
for healing), increase brain inflammation, and increase rate of neuronal
degeneration
Stress and brain inflammation speeds aging
At least certain parts of the brain continuously renew themselves; this is what is called
neuroplasticity. Sleep seems to be fundamental for this renewal process---perhaps the
greatest amount of neurogenesis happens during sleep.
Food Additives and the Feingold Diet
In the 1960s, Dr. Feingold began his work on linking diet with behavior back,
particularly with what was then called Hyperactive Disorder. He believed that the
conventional medicines wisdom about this condition was not accurate. At that time
most doctors believed that children would just outgrow hyperactivity and that it had
nothing to do with diet. Feingold was a radical yet many parents using his diet with their
hyperactive child became instant believers. His work is continued through the Feingold
Association and suggest the following from their website (www.feingold.org):
The Feingold Program eliminates these additives:
Artificial (synthetic) coloring
Artificial (synthetic) flavoring
Aspartame (NutraSweet, an artificial sweetener)
Artificial (synthetic) preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ
In the beginning (Stage One) of the Feingold Program, aspirin and some foods
containing salicylates are eliminated. Salicylate is a group of chemicals related to
aspirin. There are several kinds of salicylate, which plants make as a natural pesticide
to protect themselves. Those that are eliminated are listed in the salicylate list which is

included also in the Program Handbook (found under the organizations membership).
Most people can eventually tolerate at least some of these salicylates.
You will notice this dietary program is often referred to as a program because
fragrances and non-food items which contain the chemicals listed above are also
eliminated.
Where do food dyes come from?
Those pretty colors that make the "fruit punch" red, the gelatin green and the oatmeal
blue are made from petroleum (crude oil) which is also the source for gasoline.
You will find them on the ingredient labels, listed as "Yellow No. 5," "Red 40," "Blue #1,"
etc. The label may say "FD&C" before the number. That means "Food, Drug &
Cosmetics." When you see a number listed as "D&C" in a product, such as "D&C Red
#33" it means that this coloring is considered safe for medicine (drugs) and cosmetics,
but not for food.
What are artificial flavorings?
They are combinations of many chemicals, both natural and synthetic. An artificial
flavoring may be composed of hundreds of
separate chemicals, and there is no restriction on
what a company can use to flavor food.
One source for imitation vanilla flavoring (called
"vanillin") is the waste product of paper mills. Some companies built factories next to the
pulp mills to turn the undesirable by-product into imitation flavoring, widely used in many
cookies, candies and other foods.
What are BHA, BHT and TBHQ?
Those initials stand for three major preservatives found in many foods, especially in the
United States. Like the dyes, they are made from petroleum (crude oil). Often, they are
not listed in the ingredients.
These chemicals may be listed as "anti-oxidants" because they prevent the fats in foods
from "oxidizing" or becoming rancid (spoiling). There are many natural, beneficial anti-
oxidants, but they are much more expensive than the synthetic versions.
There are other undesirable food additives (MSG, sodium benzoate, nitrites, sulfites, to
name a few) but most of the additives used in foods have not been found to be as big a
problem as those listed above.
Food additives are not new
Without doubt the mightiest thought
the mind can entertain is the thought
of God.
-AW Tozer

Artificial colors have been around for more than 100 years. (Originally they were made
from coal tar oil.) And children have been eating artificially colored and flavored
products for decades.
But then . . . most children ate these additives infrequently. They got an occasional
lollipop from the bank or barber shop. Cotton candy was found at the circus. Jelly beans
were given at Easter, orange cupcakes at Halloween and candy canes at Christmas.
Today . . . the typical child growing up in the United States is exposed to these powerful
chemicals all day, every day.
What the child growing up in the
U.S. in the 1940's got:
What the child growing up in the
U.S. today gets:
White toothpaste
Multi-colored toothpaste, perhaps
with sparkles
Oatmeal
Sea Treasures Instant Oatmeal
(turns milk blue)
Corn flakes Fruity Pebbles
Toast & butter, jam Pop Tarts
Cocoa made with natural
ingredients
Cocoa made with artificial
flavoring, & some with dyes.
Whipped cream Cool Whip
No vitamins (or perhaps cod liver
oil)
Flintstone vitamins with coloring &
flavoring
White powder or bad-tasting liquid
medicine
Bright pink, bubble-gum flavored
chewable or liquid medicine

Sample school lunch:
Meat loaf, freshly made mashed
potatoes, vegetable. Milk, cupcake
made from scratch.
Sample school lunch:
Highly processed foods loaded
with synthetic additives, no
vegetable. Chocolate milk with
artificial flavor.
Sample school beverage:
Water from the drinking fountain
Sample school beverage:
Soft drink with artificial color,
flavor, caffeine, aspartame, etc.
Candy in the classroom a few
times a year at class parties.
Candy (with synthetic additives)
given frequently.

(Please consider becoming am member of the Feingold organization at
www.feingold.org)
Artificial Sweeteners
Even though I mentioned these in the above piece on additives, artificial sweeteners are
so damaging to the brain that they deserve their own section, maybe even an entire
book. I have long preached to my patients that Id rather have them eat sugar (yes,
even my cancer patients) than eat artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is possibly the most
common of these deadly additives so well discuss it here.
An Aspartame molecule is essentially made up of three different components: two
natural amino acids (aspartic acid and phenylalanine), and a methyl ester bond, which
includes Methanol. The methanol is released from the aspartame compound within
hours of consumption and begins traveling through the body via the blood. Once the
methyl ester bond is broken, it liberates methyl alcohol or methanol (wood alcohol). The
problem with methanol is that it is a toxin that easily passes through your blood-brain
barrier and is converted into formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is dangerous poison that is causing the brain damage. While many
animals are able to detoxify methanol in the body, humans do not have this capability.
Formaldehyde is a serious neurotoxin and carcinogen. According to the EPA, Methanol
is considered a cumulative poison which means is accumulates in the body over time
because the liver cannot excrete it. The more you consume over time the more
poisoning takes place.

Methanol itself is a toxin that destroys the specialized astrocytes that form the myelin
sheath covering the nerves in the brain. When this nerve insulation is removed, nerve
signals fail. This causes the demyelinating symptoms that are commonly seen in
diseases like MS, ALS as well as migraines that can include bizarre and inconsistent
visual field disruptions, strange upper motor neuron findings and peripheral neuralgias
and degeneration.
The EPA has accepted that a limit of consumption of 7.8 mg/day is acceptable. But
considering it took the appointment of Donald Rumsfeld, former board member of the
drug company that manufactured Aspartame, to Ronald Reagans cabinet for the FDA
to immediately approve it for use in food (the very same day Rumsfeld was sworn in),
one might want to check the research.
According to Woodrow Monte, Ph.D., R.D., director of the Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory at Arizona State University:
When diet sodas and soft drinks, sweetened with aspartame, are used to replace fluid
loss during exercise and physical exertion in hot climates, the intake of methanol can
exceed 250 mg/day or 32 times the Environmental Protection Agencys recommended
limit of consumption for this cumulative toxin.
Further, he states that due to the lack of a couple of key enzymes, humans are many
times more sensitive to the toxic effects of methanol than animals. Therefore, tests of
aspartame or methanol on animals do not accurately reflect the danger for humans.
There are no human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible mutagenic,
teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects of chronic administration of methyl alcohol, he said.
How can you know you are getting too much Methanol? You may experience
headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness,
vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the extremities,
behavioral disturbances, and neuritis. Another very well-known sign of methanol
poisoning is vision problems.
It gets worse. One of the amino acids in aspartame, aspartic acid is capable of crossing
your blood-brain barrier. Aspartic acid taken in its free form (unbound to other amino
acids in whole proteins) significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate and
glutamate. Easily crossing the blood-brain barrier, aspartate or glutamate kill certain
neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers
excessive amounts of free radicals, destroying cells. The neural cell damage that can
be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as
"excitotoxins." They "excite" or stimulate the neural cells to death. There it attacks your
brain cells, creating a form of cellular overstimulation called excitotoxicity, which can
lead to cell death.

Artificial sweeteners may just be the single worst things that one can consume legally.
They have been linked to every chronic neurological illness including: Multiple sclerosis
(MS), ALS, hormonal problems, memory loss, epilepsy, hearing loss, Alzheimers,
dementia, brain lesions, and neuroendocrine disorders.

Excitotoxins
Excitotoxins are a group of chemicals that when ingested, damage the neurons. The
most well-known excitotoxin would probably be MSG, an additive that enhances the
flavor of food. Excitotoxicity occurs when receptors for the excitatory
neurotransmitter glutamate are over-activated. Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD, author of the
book Excitotoxins - the taste that kills states that excitotoxicity may be involved
in spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss (through noise
overexposure or to toxicity) and in neurodegenerative diseases of the brain) such
as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and
Parkinson's disease.

Excitotoxins are food additives that food
producers use to stimulate taste centers in the
brain for the purpose of creating an addiction (or
at least an increased desire) for the product.
Candy, snack food (Doritos have 4 different
excitotoxins in its ingredients), Oriental dishes,
and prepared meals are notorious for adding excitotoxins to stimulate the brain to desire
more. Its legal and considered good business by food manufacturers as sales
increase.
An interesting article published in the Journal of Neurotoxicology entitled, Excitotoxins in
foods, Olney JW, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine,
stated, Evidence is reviewed pertaining to excitatory neurotoxins (excitotoxins)
encountered in human food supply. The most frequently encountered food excitotoxin is
glutamate (Glu) which is commercially added to many foods despite evidence that it can
freely penetrate certain brain regions and rapidly destroy neurons by hyperactivating the
NMDA subtype of Glu receptor. Hypersensitivity of NMDA receptors during
development makes the immature nervous system especially sensitive to Glu
excitotoxicity. On the other hand, elderly consumers are particularly sensitive to domoic
acid, a powerful excitotoxic Glu analog that activates both NMDA and non-NMDA
receptors. A high content of domoic acid in shell fish caused a recent food poisoning
incident that killed some elderly victims and caused brain damage and memory
Here's what you need to keep in
mind. You no longer have yesterday.
You do not yet have tomorrow. You
have only today. This is the day the
Lord has made. Live in it.
-Max Lucado

impairment in others. Neurolathyrism is a crippling neurodegenerative condition
associated with ingestion of a legume that naturally contains BOAA, an excitotoxic Glu
analog that hyperactivates non-NMDA receptors. Thus, the human food supply is a
source of excitotoxins that can damage the brain by one type of mechanism to which
immature consumers are hypervulnerable, or by other mechanisms to which adult and
elderly consumers are peculiarly sensitive.
Names of ingredients in foods that are excitotoxic:
Glutamic acid
Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Monopotassium glutamate
Calcium glutamate
Monoammonium glutamate
Magnesium glutamate
Natrium glutamate
Yeast extract
Anything hydrolyzed
Any hydrolyzed protein
Calcium caseinate,
Sodium caseinate

The following work synergistically with MSG to enhance flavor. If they are
present for flavoring, so is MSG even if it is not listed:
Disodium 5-guanylate
Disodium 5-inosinate
Disodium 5#-ribonucleotides
Heres what Sally Fallon has to say about the health effects of MSG, in her book, Dirty
Secrets of the Food Processing Industry:
While the industry was adding MSG to food in larger and larger amounts, in 1957
scientists found that mice became blind and obese when MSG was administered by
feeding tube. In 1969, MSG-induced lesions were found in the hypothalamus region of
the mouse brain. Subsequent studies pointed in the same direction. MSG is a
neurotoxic substance that causes a wide range of reactions in humans, from temporary
headaches to permanent brain damage. It is also associated with violent behavior. We
have had a huge increase in Alzheimers, brain cancer, seizures, multiple sclerosis and
diseases of the nervous system, and one of the chief culprits is the flavorings in our
food.

Ninety-five percent of processed foods contain MSG, and, in the late 1950s, it was even
added to baby food. Manufacturers say they have voluntarily taken it out of the baby
food, but they didnt really remove it; they just called it hydrolyzed protein instead.
An excellent book, Excitotoxins, by Russell Blaylock, describes how nerve cells either
disintegrate or shrivel up in the presence of free glutamic acid if it gets past the blood-
brain barrier. The glutamates in MSG are absorbed directly from the mouth to the brain.
Some investigators believe that the great increase in violence in this country starting in
1960 is due to the increased use of MSG beginning in the late 1950s, particularly as it
was added to baby foods.
Remember: By food industry definition, all MSG is naturally occurring. Natural
doesnt mean safe. Natural only means that the ingredient started out in nature, like
arsenic and hydrochloric acid.
When you eat real, whole foods, you automatically avoid MSG, aspartame and other
excitotoxins. No need to memorize the whole list of different food additives, simply skip
the processed junk and EAT REAL FOOD!
The best advice is to eat food as close to the way God originally created it!
The Immune System and Antigen Responses
Autoimmune diseases in general are commonly overlooked in both traditional medicine
and alternative healthcare. This is at least in part due to the fact that neither traditional
medicine nor the alternative model of care has had much, if any, success in treating
them. If we look at the traditional model of care, we find that complete immune
suppression is the treatment of choice; its success rate is horrible and the patient is
often killed by the medications meant to help them. Alternative solutions have fared
better only as far as they didnt kill the patient.
Success is too often measured by the suppression of symptoms not correcting the
cause that is producing an effect. The population seems to be okay with this model:
Give my symptoms a name and then drug them into oblivion. Unfortunately, we are
going to discover that this type of mentality is leading us down the road of destruction.
The question they really need to ask is why they became sick in the first place. The
answer to this question for many suffering people may lie in the fact that they have an
immune destruction against their tissue that, unless stopped, is continuously
progressing and may ultimately cause death. We cannot be satisfied with symptom
suppression while ignoring the cause; we must never settle for a treatment that does not
address the reason the disease exists; and we must become our own advocates,
studying and demanding that our healthcare practitioner proves their cure with logical
understanding of the process itself.

The autoimmune response is an inflammatory response, which produces chemicals
called cytokines, which are part of the bodys natural defense system against outside
invaders. The bodys immune system may be separated into a Th1 and a Th2
response. The Th1 response may be thought of as the police force, the bodys initial
strike force against an invader or what is called an antigen. When an antigen is
present, the Th1 system fires and kills the virus; should the bug be of a nasty
persuasion and strong enough to resist the Th1 response, the Th2 system kicks in,
creates antibodies against the virus, tagging them so appropriate white blood cells can
finish them off. A person with an autoimmune disease has this process stuck in the on
position, either hyper-Th1 or hyper-Th2, which prolonged, destroys the tissue where the
antigen is recognized. In the case of an antigen causing inflammation in the brain, it is
equivalent to ones brain literally being on fire!
My opinion is that all chronic health patients
should be tested for autoimmune disease. If the
testing reveals such an attack, the battle is to
figure out a way to dampen their immune activity.
That is why its necessary to do all the testing
and select the most sensitive tests. My doctor
already tested me for gluten and he said its not
positive! But I had a H. pylori test already!
The blood test for gluten and H pylori are highly
unreliable and reveal a lot of false negatives.
You need to do the specialized stool and gene
profile for gluten and the Urea Breathe Test for
H. Pylori. New, more sensitive testing is being developed all the time; find a functional
medicine doctor who is spending the time it takes to keep up on current trends. Immune
panels need to be run with their Th1/Th2 cytokine breakdowns, a complete CBC with 1,
25 Vitamin D and 25 Vitamin D testing; get Homocystene levels, B-12 and a lipid panel.
Always keep on digging and search for every possible antigen there is often more
than one!

"Thimerosol is the preservative in
immunization shots, so anytime you
get an immunization shot you are
undergoing the same procedure
that in the University Lab we used
to give animals auto-immune
disease---give a little tiny injection
of mercury. And when you get an
immunization shot you are getting a
little tiny dose of mercury there."---
Hal Huggins DDS

TH1 and TH2 Balancing

There are 2 parts of your immune system, the TH1 and TH2 response. When a person is Auto-
Immune, one of these systems is hyper-firing or Dominant. Balancing this system goes far in
reducing a patients symptoms:
TH2 TH1

These SHOULD be
Balanced!
TH1 or TH2

TH1 Dominance TH2 Dominance

There are specific dietary changes and supplements that can help and hinder the above response:
NOTE: ALL AI cases need Vitamin D, Glutathione, and Omega 3 fish oils +

Things that stimulate the TH1 response: (Take these if you are TH2 Dominant)
Echinacea
Garlic
Vitamin C
Immune stimulants
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza)
Astragalus
Beta-glucan mushroom
Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Things that stimulate the TH2 response: (Take these if you are TH1 Dominant)
Caffeine
Green Tea
Grape Seed Extract
Herbal barks (Cramp Bark, Pine Bark, White Willow Bark)
Lycopene
Resveratrol
Pycnogenol

Therefore, if a patient is TH1 Dominant, they should AVOID TH1 Stimulants and TAKE
TH2 Stimulants

Sugar

If one thinks that a child is sensitive to sugar, then one might attempt a no sugar diet for
a couple of months. A no sugar diet avoids
sugar, corn syrup, fructose, dextrose,
honey, and maple syrup. The childs
symptoms may increase for the first
few days without sugar. Then reintroduce sugar
and observe their behavior before and
after. Even if a child were not sensitive to
sugar one would want to keep their
consumption of sugar low. Foods that are high in sugar are usually low in important
essential nutrients, as well as usually contain artificial colors and flavors, chocolate, and
saturated, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats. In addition, if a child eats a
large amount of sugar containing foods, this reduces their intake of high-density
nutritious foods. Some suggestions to help avoid sugar in the diet: substitute all fruit
juices, fruit drinks or punches, with 100 percent unsweetened orange, grape, grapefruit
or tomato juice. One should choose frozen and canned unsweetened fruits and pure
fruit juices as well as fresh fruits for desserts and use small amounts of all fruit jams. A
nutritious breakfast should include high protein food (eggs, homemade sausage, fresh
fruit, gluten-free cereal or bread and raw milk). Most western children start the day with
sugary cereal. Not only are these products high in sugar content, they also contain
artificial colors and preservatives, which can all cause adverse reactions.
Yeast, Fungus and Mold
Yeasts are single-cell living organisms that are neither animal nor vegetable. They live
on the surfaces of all living things, including fruits, vegetables, grains and your skin.
They're part of the "microflora which contributes in various ways to the health of their
host with which they normally have a symbiotic relationship. Yeast itself is nutritious and
A wise woman puts a grain of
sugar into everything she says to a
man, and takes a grain of salt with
everything he says to her.
-Helen Rowland quotes (English-
American writer, 1876-1950)

small amounts of yeast gives bread its good yeasty taste. Yeast is a kind of fungus.
Mildew, mold, mushrooms, monilia and candida are all names that are used to describe
different types of yeast.

Candida albicans is normal in human flora and usually harmless living on the inner
warm creases and crevices of the digestive tract and vagina. When your immune
system is strong, candida yeasts cause no problems. But when you take broad-
spectrum antibiotics for such conditions as acne, respiratory infections or cystitis
(bladder infection), these drugs knock out friendly germs while they're knocking out
enemies. Even overgrowth usually does not produce difficulty in a healthy child with a
properly functioning brain and immune system. However, chronic use of antibiotics
provides a less than optimum environment for both bacteria normally present and
necessary for effective digestion and leads to mutant forms of the organisms.
Normal bacteria not only aid in digestion, but also create a certain pH of the intestine
that helps suppress the growth of pathogens. When the bacteria are suppressed, the
yeast can grow unchecked and Candida albicans is therefore thought to play a role in a
number of health problems. These include recurrent infection, fatigue, irritability,
hyperactivity, and other neurological symptoms, like short attention span, brain fog, and
depression. It is also possible that some of these symptoms will also reflect a decrease
in brain activation, especially of the left hemisphere that may be the prime cause of or
be associated with other diseases or disorders co-existing with the yeast infection.
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis [kok-sid-e-oy-do-my-co-sis] or "cocci" for short) is an
infection of the lungs caused by a fungus that grows in the soil in the southern and
central portions of California and the portions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas,
and Utah. Valley Fever is also found in parts of Mexico, Central and South America.
Forty percent of people who are infected will develop symptoms such as cough, fever,
exhaustion, rash, chest pain, night sweats, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, weight
loss, and lack of appetite. Some symptoms can last for weeks or even months and it
can become chronic, lasting years and affecting neural centers, in a small percentage of
people. Some people may develop severe disease infection outside the lungs or chronic
symptoms. Certain groups of people are at higher risk of developing severe disease. In
2012, 12,920 cases of Valley Fever were reported to the Arizona Department of Health
Services.
Mold is a nasty toxin in the body. In my experience, its as hard to get rid of as chronic
Lyme. The trichothecene mycotoxins produced by toxic black mold are neurotoxic. This
means they can kill neurons in the brain and impair a person's mental ability. They also
cause nervous disorders such as tremors and can cause personality changes such as
mood swings and irritability.
Mold expert Dr. Jack Thrasher, estimates that as many as 40 percent of American
schools and 25 percent of homes have mold infestations, unbeknownst to the people
occupying those buildings. It follows that adverse health effects of mold may be
reaching pandemic levels. Growing right along with mold are what are called "gram

negative" and "gram positive" bacteria. Just like mold, they require moisture and organic
material to thrive and are often found growing in the same places as mold, and the
synergistic action between mold and bacteria further worsen inflammatory health
conditions. Oftentimes, bacterial infections occur alongside fungal infections and make
treatment more complicated.
According to Dr. Mercola, Everyone is potentially at risk for toxic mold exposure,
regardless of your geographic region, climate, socioeconomic status, race, age or
gender. As with most other medical challenges, knowledge is your most powerful
weapon. Scientific research has been emerging that connects mold exposure with
various health conditions for which the causes were previously unknown. For example,
in 2010, Fisk et al published a meta-analysis showing a substantially significant
association between residential dampness and mold with respiratory infections and
bronchitis.
A toxic exposure often impairs brain function but more importantly, it is usually exposure
over time (prolonged, chronic and often unknown contact) that causes the greatest
problem. Symptoms are varied and often unidentified. It's easy for someone to feel
"crazy" rather than injured. An article titled "Psychological, Neuropsychological, and
Electrocortical Effects of Mixed Mold Exposure" explains some of the implications of a
toxic mold exposure.
The study stated, The pattern of deficits commonly seen in mild traumatic brain injury is
very similar to that found in mold-exposed individuals. This phenomenon--clinically
referred to as 'brain fog'--is also common in individuals who suffer from multiple
chemical sensitivity. Patients reported a loss of their sense of self, of their usual ways of
doing things, and even of their personality. They were painfully aware of their deficits
and were constantly frustrated by their loss of cognitive efficiency and frequent
mistakes. This can be understood as a disturbance or dysfunction of the frontal cortical
areas, as implicated in the QEEG findings and the relationship of exposure data to test
performance in this study."
"Patients--including multiple family members--exposed to toxic molds reported moderate
to severe levels of psychological distress related to the development of a wide range of
physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Problems included the frustration of trying
to find knowledgeable and appropriate medical care, interference with social and work
life, temporary or permanent abandonment of homes and possessions, financial stress,
and anxiety and helplessness as a result of continuing poor health. Most of these
patients, in absence of any significant premorbid psychiatric problems, could be
diagnosed as suffering from acute stress, adjustment disorder, or post-traumatic stress."

Heavy Metal and other Environmental Toxins
There are many heavy metals in our environment both naturally and from pollution. The
term heavy metal applies to a group of metals with similar chemical properties. Some

of these, including copper, iron and zinc, play important roles in our bodies. Others have
no known benefit for health.
Examples of these are lead, which is found in paint in old homes as well as many other
sources; arsenic, which can be found in well water and wood products; and mercury,
which can build up in fish that we eat.
Vaccinations
Here is an example of the inhumanity committed by these pharmaceutical companies
regarding the vaccine Gardasil, marketed to young girls. All clinical trials of the vaccines
to get it approved were done on children aged 15 and above, despite them currently
being marketed for 9-year-olds. So far, 15,037 girls have reported adverse side effects
from Gardasil alone to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and this
number only reflects parents who underwent the hurdles required for reporting adverse
reactions; one could safely multiply that by several. At the time of writing, 44 girls are
officially known to have died from these vaccines. Ill guarantee you that if one person
died from eating this book, it would be pulled off the market and Id go to jail. The
reported side effects include Guillian Barr Syndrome (paralysis lasting for years, or
permanently sometimes eventually causing suffocation), lupus, seizures, blood clots,
and brain inflammation. Parents are usually not made aware of these risks.
In an article reported by Brent Lambert, July 2013, Although these two vaccines are
marketed as protection against cervical cancer, this claim is purely hypothetical.
Studies have proven there is no demonstrated relationship between the condition being
vaccinated for and the rare cancers that the vaccine might prevent, but it is marketed to
do that nonetheless. In fact, there is no actual evidence that the vaccine can prevent
any cancer. From the manufacturers own admissions, the vaccine only works on 4
strains out of 40 for a specific venereal disease that dies on its own in a relatively short
period, so the chance of it actually helping an individual is about the same as the
chance of her being struck by a meteorite.
But vaccines are good for you, right? Lets reason together for a minute. Let us pretend
that they are not made from aborted fetal tissue, do not contain any toxic metals, do not
use formaldehyde, and dont have MSG and numerous other toxic chemicals. Lets
pretend they are made from pure angel dust.
The reason someone would ever be vaccinated is to achieve immunity protection from
the disease. How does one become immune to a disease? First, there is no such thing
as perfect immunity. If I had Chicken Pox as a child, I may or may not be immune to
Chicken Pox later in life because when I did have it, my immune system fired a TH1 and
then a TH2 reaction. A TH1 reaction is the killer cell side that attempts to destroy the
pathogen. Should the disease process continue, the TH1 side of my immune response
suppresses and my TH2 side fires to make antibodies. This is the key!
If my body has circulating antibodies from a particular pathogen it could be said that I
have a relative immunity against that pathogen. I say relative immunity because it
depends on the number of antibodies that I have and the ferocity of pathogen that I may

be exposed to. This is why most people (but not all) who had Chicken Pox as a child will
not get Chicken Pox later in life should they be re-exposed.
So how does a vaccination work? If we could expose you with our imaginary angel dust
vaccine that had just enough of the disease to fire a TH1 then a TH2 reaction that would
cause you to create antibodies against the disease without creating a full-blown
disease, then, and ONLY then would the vaccination result in an immunity.
This is exactly why 47 children in my daughters grade school last year were home sick
with Chicken Pox and EVERY one of them previously were vaccinated against Chicken
Pox! What the heck? How did that happen? Now you can explain it to your friends. Tell
them, Its simple really, if the vaccination didnt fire a TH1 then a TH2 reaction, your
child will NOT create antibodies and they will NOT be immune. What Kool-Aid have you
been drinking? (You may want to leave that last part out)
In real life, vaccines are not made out of angel dust. Brain inflammation, Fibromyalgia,
Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Autism, Cancer and other ASD disorders are
linked to vaccination exposure. Does that mean that everyone getting vaccinated will
have problems? Of course not; it depends on the individuals health of their liver and
strength of their detoxification pathways. But to say that vaccines are innocuous and
surety against contracting a disease is ludicrous.
Ill say nothing more about vaccinations; do your due diligence when making decisions
that will affect you and your children for a lifetime.
This may help your Doctor
This section gets a bit more wordy but may help your doctor if he/she isnt up on such
data. Understanding the brains immune response is crucial in helping patients with
brain problems. Medicines desire to medicate patients may quickly get them out of the
office, placate the school, and even numb the symptoms but this practice is slowly
eroding or culture and creating a dependency on the pharmacy. But thats really the
purpose.
For industry, every day a drug is held up from being marketed, represents a loss of 1
million to 2 million dollars of profit. The incentive is to review and approve the drugs as
quickly as possible, and not stand in the way of profit-making. The FDA cooperates with
that mandate. - David Graham, MD Neurologist, Associate Director for Science &
Medicine, Office of Drug Safety, U.S. Food & Drug Administration Employed by FDA for
over twenty years
In our opinion, the key to getting patients better, regardless of their symptoms is to
figure out WHY they have this problem and know, and be able to test for, exactly WHAT
is going to be best to heal it. I understand that is an overly simplified statement and
every doctor would say, Duh, thats what were trying to do. However, understanding
HOW to actually figure this stuff out gets a bit more complicated. After a concert pianist
finished a concert, a spectator approached him and said, You were fantastic, I want to
be able to play the piano like you. Much to his surprise, the pianist retorted, No you

dont. If you did, youd be home practicing 15 hours each day for the past 25 years,
impressing the truth that there lies a grand chiasm between wanting to be an expert and
willing to become one.
The original notion that the brain was an immune-privileged organ lacking the
capability to produce an inflammatory response to an injury is no longer plausible.
Accumulated evidence during the last decade has shown that the CNS can mount a
well-defined inflammatory response to a variety of insults including trauma, ischemia,
transplantation, viral infections, toxins as well as neurodegenerative processes. New
concepts are rapidly emerging as to the molecular mechanisms associated with the
development of brain injury. In particular, the importance of cytokines, as well as
adhesion molecules, has been emphasized in the propagation and maintenance of a
CNS inflammatory response.
Virtually all brain based problems involve inflammation. Patients will be found to exhibit
increased peripheral blood inflammatory biomarkers, including inflammatory cytokines,
which have been shown to access the brain exogenously as well. Cytokines interact
with virtually every pathophysiologic domain known to be involved in all the brain
disorders, including neurotransmitter metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and neural
plasticity.
Cytokines communicate and create effects in three ways: Autocrine, within the cell that
creates it; paracrine, between cells; and endocrine, at a distance. Different cytokines
have different functions which are all good, meaning they have a beneficial purpose.
The problems arise when we see either prolonged secretion that becomes destructive
or when the immune system has turned-on against something that it can never kill.
So an example of the former would be a Chronic Lyme patient with an immune system
attempting to kill a biotoxin (a living organism that normally should be able to be killed).
However, in chronic biotoxin disorders, what makes them chronic is the fact that the
immune system is unable to kill them for several reasons that we wont address in detail
now. (Some bugs have the ability to hide within the cell and disable cellular markers that
should normally clue an immune response to such infiltration thereby staying ou-of-
reach from an immune response.)
An example of the later would be an immune response against mercury toxicity. The
immune system should never have instigated an attack against mercury because
remember, the immune system does one thing - it kills things. However, for a variety of
reasons, this can happen and when it does, the patient will have a chronic, ramped-up
immune response wherever the antigen is found.
As cytokines are classified, we separate them into groups. Chemicals typically found in
a TH1 response are IL-1, IL-2, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and others.
Those found in TH2 responses include IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TGF-beta, and
Fractalkine. But then we can separate cytokines into either PRO inflammatory (IL-1
alpha and beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-gamma, NFkB, and TNF-alpha,) and
ANTI inflammatory (IL-10, IL-13, TGF-beta, and Fractalkine).

Cytokine functions:
1. Most are secreted by many immune and non-immune cells (endothelial cells,
astrocytes, fibroblast, adipocytes)
2. One cytokine can stimulate release of others (cascading effect)
3. Single cytokine can have effect on a broad range of cell types
4. Great redundancy-many cytokines can have same effect cytokine can stimulate
release of others (cascading effect)
5. Many are involved in non-immune functions-bone formation, uterine function,
endothelial cell function, etc.
6. Effect depends on timing: IL-6 acutely is protective and chronically is destructive
The cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) plays a significant role in brain immune
and inflammatory activities. TNF-alpha is produced in the brain by microglial cells and
astrocytes in response to various pathological processes such as biotoxin infiltration,
ischemia, and trauma. Expect to have TNF-alpha increased excessively in Chronic
Lyme disease (CLD), H-pylori infections, and chronic mold. Think of using
supplementation like Green Tea Extract (EGCG) which has been proven to decrease
TNF-alpha concentrations.
An example of function differentiation would be with NFkB. NFkB activation in microglial
cells increases neuronal death but increases in the neuron itself are protective. Patients
with MS see high levels of NFkB in the microglia near the plaque formation. Of course
you want to figure out WHY this is happening but using products like Curcumin,
Quercetin, Kaempferol, DHA, Green tea extract (EGCG), N-acetyl-L-cysteine, Silymarin,
Selenium, Ginkgo biloba, Indole-3 , and Vitamin A (retinol).
NFkB is found in all cell types and has a variety of functions; many that you would not
wish to be increased in chronic disorders. It also stimulates several other inflammatory
cytokines like IL-6 (very destructive in chronic conditions) and TNFalpha.
A word about IL-6, a TH2, proinflammatory cytokine that is often elevated in cancer and
other chronic infections like Lyme: IL-6 increases osteoclastic activity. Therefore, it
inhibits bone healing; it is my opinion that one should take steps to decrease IL-6 levels
and just assume they are high in all chronic disorders. Osteopenia, Osteoporosis,
athletes with stress fractures, cancer patients with bone metastasis, and anyone with
brain inflammation should consider steps to decrease IL-6 levels. What will do this?
There currently is no medication. The only thing known, through a multitude of trails, to
decrease IL-6 is Green Tea Extract (EGCG) and I typically recommend 1500-
3000mg/day.
Other benefits of EGCGs: suppresses NFkB, decreases TNF-alpha, it is a chain-
breaking antioxidant, Inhibits COX-1 and COX-2, Increases PPARs (peroxisome

proliferator activated receptor), and Increases NAG-1. These are all huge positives for
decreasing brain inflammation!
IFN-gamma primes macrophages and influences B cells (the TH2 system) to produce
IgG (antibodies); TNF-alpha activates primes macrophages and Natural Killer (NK) cells
to help pursue an immune assault. IL-2 is a growth factor that helps stimulate NK cells
and causes Killer T-cells to proliferate; IL-4 is a growth factor for B cells and influences
switch to IgE (an immediate response).
Dementias like Alzheimers have been exhaustively been studied revealing a spike in
certain cytokines (IL-1$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-$) with a high percentage of patients
exhibiting autoantibodies to brain, meaning it often becomes an autoimmune disorder.
IL-1alpha is an acute phase cytokine in the CNS that is commonly expressed within
hours after a head injury but present in Alzheimers. Microglial activation in these
dementias are 6X higher than normal exhibiting numerous excessive, destructive
cytokines and chemokines.

Studies injecting IFN- gamma produces depression, irritability, anxiety, low mood,
cognitive impairment, apathy, loss of appetite and mild to severe fatigue. Depressed
patients exhibit elevated IL-6 and IL-10 as well as acute phase proteins - haptoglobin
and CRP.
Other nutrients that are known to reduce microglial activation that you may consider:
Hesperidin, kaempferol, Magnesium, Quercetin,
Curcumin, Ginseng, Luteolin, Anthocyanidins,
Silymarin, DHA, Resveratrol, Consider
Curcumin is an excellent choice and has been
shown to: Decreases reactive oxygen and nitrogen
species (ROS and RNS), reduces microglial
activation, decrease IL-12 production by
macrophages and microglia, initiate a Th1 to Th2
shift, and reduce eicosanoid activation: LOX and
COX.
Quercetin also inhibits NFkB, decreases nitric oxide (NO) production and suppresses
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), potently inhibits 5-LOX and 12-LOX, inhibits
proinflammatory cytokines (Th1), and Inhibits PLA2 as well as TNFalpha.
Vitamin D3 can be helpful and should be considered. My opinion is to test it and keep
levels of at least 60. It has been shown to inhibit IL-12, IL-2, IFN-g and TNF-a, and
decrease production of Th1 associated cytokines.
Silymarin (Milk thistle) also decreases production of NFkB, is a strong antioxidant that
significantly reduces LPS induced TNF-alpha. It also inhibits JNK and MAPK p38 and
increases cellular glutathione and SOD.
But for right now, until that
completeness, we have three things
to do to lead us toward that
consummation: Trust steadily in
God, hope unswervingly, love
extravagantly. And the best of the
three is love.

Fish Oil (omega-3 oils) will be discussed later but they are excellent fighters of brain
inflammation, significantly decreasing IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-alpha, decreases
microglial activation and stimulates PPARs. Vitamin A (Retinols) also inhibit NFkB
activation, increase TGF-beta, decrease TNF-alpha, and decrease iNOS.
Vitamin E (beta and gamma tocotrienols not alpha) suppresses IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and
TNF-alpha, suppresses inflammatory eicosanoids, and when added to N-3 oils (fish oils)
further lowering of these cytokines occurs. Ginkgo biloba inhibits NFkB activation by
lipopolysaccharide, and reduces TNF-a stimulation by LPS.
These other nutrients have shown that they reduce microglial activation: Hesperidin,
Kaempferol, Magnesium, Quercetin, Curcumin, Ginseng, Luteolin, Anthocyanidins,
Silymarin, DHA, and Resveratrol.
Farooqu and Horrocks (2001) reporting in the Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, state
that plasmalogens are glycerol-phospholipids of neural membranes, rate-limiting
enzymes, are in the peroxisomes and are induced by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The
authors suggest that deficiencies of DHA and plasmalogens occur in peroxisomal
disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, depression, and ADHD, The authors claim that this
situation may be responsible for abnormal signal transduction associated with learning
disability, cognitive deficit, and visual dysfunction. These abnormalities in the signal-
transduction process can be partially corrected by supplementation with a diet enriched
with DHA or essential fatty acids.

The symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiencies include:
Excessive thirst
Frequent urination
Dry skin
Dry hair
Dandruff
Soft and brittle nails
Small hard little white bumps on the backs of the arms, elbows or thighs.

There are two essential fatty acids relevant to our discussion: linolenic acid, an omega-6
fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. These are the precursor
molecules for making long chain fatty acids such as dihommo-gamma-linolenic acid
(DGLA), arachadonic acid, eccosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA). Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are essential because they help make up the
cell membrane around every cell including brain cells. The balance of these essential
fatty acids helps to determine the fluidity of the membrane and the ability of molecules
to enter and exit the cell. This balance also affects the ability of molecules to bind to
receptors in the membrane. These long chain fatty acids are also critical because the
body converts them to prostaglandins and other important molecules that help cells
communicate with each other. Arachadonic and DHA are more concentrated in the
brain and retina than in other cells. They therefore play a crucial role in brain and

nervous system function. Studies have suggested that approximately 40 percent of boys
with ADHD have significantly lower levels of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids than controls
with normal behavior (Mitchell et al., 1987). However, boys with ADHD have few
symptoms of fatty acid deficiencies and have blood levels comparable to boys in the
control group. It is thought that the reason for lower levels could include lower dietary
intake or a metabolic block in the omega-3 and 6 fatty acid pathways.

Ways to increase intake of essential fatty acids, especially omega-3, is to use cold
process cod liver oils or olive oils for homemade salad dressing. These oils can be
included into spaghetti sauce, soup, etc. or used to make a pasta salad; also baking
with them is good. Frying with these oils should be avoided because the molecules do
not sustain their structure with high heat and oxygen so use coconut oil in frying at
higher temperatures. Flaxseed oil is a more concentrated source of omega-6 and 9 fatty
acids and therefore should be avoided. Beans are also a good source of essential fatty
acids, especially navy and kidney. Tofu is soy and should be avoided. Cold water fish,
like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty
acids.
In some cases, a patient may have a genetic predisposition to a certain mineral or
vitamin deficiency and therefore that individual may require supplementation to
compensate for the inherited decrease in production, absorption, or inability to produce
the relevant substances on their own. In these cases, the deficiencies may exacerbate
the symptoms and even create additional symptoms. We like to run special testing
when this is suspected that test measures intracellular nutrients. It is our opinion that
nutrient blood testing that does NOT measure intracellular nutrients will not be accurate.
Nutrients and supplements that have been shown, under controlled circumstances, to
enhance brain function and cognitive abilities and improve behavior need to be
TESTED SPECIFICALLY as each case is completely different and I absolutely do NOT
advocate a cookie cutter approach!


Chapter Four

Treat the PROBLEM
at BOTH Fronts

1. CAUSE OF BRAIN INFLAMMATION
2. RESULTANT NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS

The Problem with the Frontal Lobes

As stated, Anxiety, Depression, OCD and the rest of the ASDs are primarily frontal lobe
disorders. Imbalance between the two hemispheres, a failure of reciprocal
communication, and typically a decrease frequency of firing of the right as compared to
left may be the cause of the collective symptoms. Though there may be many reasons
why this is occurring, from the emotional environment already discussed to the genetic
predisposition to auto-immune responses to metabolic stimuli, correction of the
imbalance must accompany the metabolic correction.


Elkhonin Goldberg, in his classis book The Executive Brain reverberates, Frontal
lobes are critical for every successful learning process, for motivation and attention.
Today we are increasingly aware of subtle disorders afflicting both children and adults
attention deficit disorders (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD)!how they are caused by subtle dysfunction of the frontal lobes and the
pathways connecting them to other parts of the brain.

The frontal lobes are the executive of the brain, the CEO of all human function. They
are concerned with all sophisticated operations of information processing, language
processing, abstract thought and general reasoning. They are truly what make you
human. Your dog does have frontal lobes but they are relatively small by comparison.
Dogs receive less neuronal firing of the frontal cortex back onto the midbrain (the part of
the brain responsible for instinctual function) and therefore are more governed by
instinctual function. As much as I try to teach my German Sheppard NOT to bark at
passersby or the squirrel at the feeder, she has a difficult time suppressing the
instinctual protective features bred into her.

A properly functioning frontal cortex is what makes us human. It regulates movement,
sorts all cognitive input, balances emotion responses, and decides on appropriate
behavior. The most anterior portion (most frontal), is called the pre-frontal cortex. It is

the conductor of the brain and is separated into three distinct gyri: the Dorso-Lateral
gyrus, the Frontal-Orbital gyrus, and the Medial Anterior Cingulate.

Pre-Frontal Lobe Syndromes
The Musicians follow the Conductor

Dorsi-Lateral (DL) Gyrus-
Helps decide what is relevant
Helps perspective, Helps sequence
Helps attenuate, Helps categorize
Helps sort, organize thoughts and future plans
Gives emotional affect

Dysfunction or hypofunction:

Left DL Gyrus:
Wrong data
Learning issues
Difficulty sorting info
Planning difficulty
Difficulty attenuating importance of data
Difficulty sorting the outcomes of different data
Mixing up data
Inability to initiate and then to terminate an activity
Difficult planning and changing a plan

Right DL Gyrus:
Similar/same as left plus an emotional charge to it or worse with data that has emotional
impact/characterization

More severe " the more indifferent patient will be to the problem!

note: = OCD (commonly from a lack of inhibition to the DL Gyrus from the Basal
Ganglion a deep central portion of the midbrain), Mental Rigidity (they need to
fire the frontal lobe with OCD behaviors)
= Perseveration on things, actions, Field-Dependant behavior
= cant let things go, these OCD traits all stem from DL Gyrus problems

Early Alzheimers & Dementia are
Frontal Lobe dysfunctions. The
FL is the parent, or conductor that
neuronally fires back on deeper
brain centers, keeping them alive.
The DL gyrus is essential in life
drive Subtle decrease in drive,
initiative, and interest in the world
around is a common early sign of
Dementias.

Tests:
-Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
-Stroop test


Frontal-Orbital Gyrus-
Helps determine consequences of possible behavior
Helps base decisions against outcomes = the voice of reason

Dysfuntion/hypofunction:
! Increased risk taker;
! impairment of insight,
! Lack of impulse control & foresight
! Increased asocial behavior
! Loss of inhibition of behavior (Tourettes spectrum they need to fire the FL
with tics, verbal expression)
! Moral Agnosia, ability to KNOW right from wrong but inability to use this
knowledge to regulate behavior

note: There can be an increased weight of consequences = Anxiety, lack of action,
Panic Attacks

Wizelsucht Syndrome Drunken adolescent attitude immature, self-absorbed personality.
What was known as a pseudo-sociopath.
Frontal-Orbital Gyrus = social maturity
= Inappropriately jocular, emotionally volatile, irritable, fractious, & impulsive.
=ADD, ADHD, Asbergers, Autism-spectrum
=Addictions, phobias, impulsive habits

Medial Anterior Cingulate (MAC)
Helps base possible behaviors weighed against rewards

Dysfunction/hypofunction:
! No longer driven by the potential emotional rewards
! Akinetic, lack of tone in personality, lack of emotion
! Lose perspective of emotional consequences
! Lose perspective of moral/ethical consequences
-lose compassion
-lose empathy
-pain of others doesnt bother them

Dysfunction/hyperfunction:
! Increase risk taker,
! Dangerous behavior,
! Forbidden behavior
! Gravitate towards self-destructive behavior, sports, games
! Micturation (urination centers) area is next to MAP, therefore pt may have
incontinence, bedwetting issues

The Pre-Frontal Cortex is the CEO of the Brain; it is the Conductor of the Orchestra. It
is what makes us human, what separates us from the beasts. It is the stimulator of all
that is good in the Brain and the inhibitor of all less desirable. The Pre-Frontal Cortex is
what makes you, you!


Fixing the Barriers
As stated in the previous chapters, a break in the barriers is what causes problems.
Think of your skin; it is a barrier against infection that protects your body from the
outside world. Should you cut your arm, a local immune response ensues to kill any
possible infective pathogens from damaging the tissue, collagen fibers gather to heal
the wound, growth factors (IGF-1) are released to stimulate rapid recovery until the
barrier is rebuilt. This is exactly what happens in your gut barrier and your blood-brain
barrier (also in your alveoli of your lung but we wont talk about that now).
If you decided to repeated slash your arm, the barrier is continually breached and
pathogens will definitely enter the bloodstream. So it is with the rest of the barriers.
Continual damage equals enemy entrance regardless of the gallant efforts of the kings
guards attempting to protect the castle.
Healing the gut barrier should be the first intent of the practitioner. 2000 years ago
Hippocrates said it well, "bad digestion is the root of all evil." More recently, Nobel
laureate Elie Metchnikoff said: "Death begins in the colon." As I stated in the above
chapters, every doctor must first check patients for hypochlorhydria (decreased HCl
production) and supplement with HCl and digestive enzymes.
Compromise in the integrity of the gut barrier causes increase intestinal permeability, or
Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS), causing the tight junctions of the intestinal mucosa to
become compromised. The space between the cells become widened and permeable
Important Note:
Hypo/Hyper-firing of the brain is a relative state between Left & Right sides or different
brain centers that a person experiences in Brain-Based Conditions. Most people with brain-
based issues tend to fluctuate between states.

EG: OCD and Tourettes have their classical symptoms expressed as a hyper state in the
Brains attempt to fire that deficient region OR hyper-firing due to hypo-firing of
opposite side.
There almost never exists a singular lesion manifesting in only one of the Pre-frontal Gyri.
It is more complex, more subtle changes, commonly ignored or missed by the individual
and their family. But, if caught early, serious, permanent changes may be averted!

so that large, undigested compounds, toxins and bacteria can pass through the
intestinal mucosa and into the circulatory system.
The foreign compounds and organisms then react with the immune system which sees
them as antigens (enemy invaders) that need to be broken down and destroyed. These
antigens challenge the immune system and trigger the production of antibodies to
neutralize the antigens which then begins a cycle of inflammation and self-cell damage.
The immune responses, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, are
attempting to kill the foreign invaders and this is where we really have problems as
many of the foreign invaders (antigens) are NOT living. What if protein particles
(peptides) of food (like gluten) are the invaders that pass through the damaged gut
wall?
Huge amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines can flood the system to kill something that
CANNOT BE KILLED leading to accelerated destruction of the GI tract cells
themselves, other organs and tissues of the body, and (it gets worse), your Th2
response starts making antibodies against your OWN tissue. This is then, by definition,
an autoimmune disease!
We spoke about what happens to the immune response when we get gut border
damage, but what causes the damage? Below is a list of some of the things that can
initially set this vicious cycle in motion and depending on the cause in your case, will
dictate the treatment. By this I mean that if casein is a cause of inflammation, you must
remove casein for the diet as well as taking the appropriate steps that I outline below if
you are going to have success. I cant tell you how many patients have tried to
circumvent this obvious fact because they refuse to change their diet. Its a bit like trying
to rebuild the dike in the middle of Katrina good luck with that.
Gluten: In genetically pre-disposed people, a single dose of gluten, a dietary
protein found in wheat, rye, spelt, barley, and malt can cause increased intestinal
permeability.
Casein: It is a protein found in large quantities in cows milk.
Fast Foods: Chemicals in processed foods are extremely irritating.
Alcohol: Promotes intestinal bacterial growth and permeability.
Antibiotics: Dramatically upset the intestinal environment.
Cortico-Steroids: Decrease systemic immune reactions and cause all sorts of
problems
Antacids: They upset acid levels in the stomach necessary for good digestion.
H Pylori: This extremely common bacteria is the major cause of gastric and
duodenal ulcers, cancer, heart disease, and all endothelial damage.
Intestinal Dysbiosis: This is a condition where microbial imbalances develop in
the gut. In small amounts, microbial colonies found in the gut are usually benign

or beneficial. When the balance is disturbed due to factors like antibiotic
exposure or alcohol misuse, an overgrowth of one or more of the disturbed
colonies can develop into a chronic and pervasive imbalance allowing pathogenic
microbes to take control.
Intestinal viruses, mold, Lyme, parasites, and other pathogens.
Stress: Even normal life stress can predispose us to gut inflammation.
Blood Sugar Imbalances: They can alter our stress response and trigger multiple
pathways leading to leaky gut. Everyone should be tested for dysglycemia.
Fasting (morning) blood sugars over 90 can lead to gut problems.
Sleep disturbances: When we have a normal night sleep, our brain secretes IGF-
1, a growth hormone that stimulate a Th1 response in the gut to kill off pathogens
that may be present from the day. Poor sleep equals poor gut. We see this
commonly with those on swing shift work schedules. This is also part of a
common vicious cycle with cortisol, the hippocampus and glucose creation in the
liver which well discuss when we talk about testing.
Hormone Imbalances: They have a major influence on GI Function.
o The thyroid hormones T4 and T3 have been shown to protect the
intestinal mucosal lining from injury.
o Low levels of T4 and T3 can cause decreased stimulation of gastric and
intestinal cells leading to ulcers (from H. pylori infiltration not being killed
by the HCl), intestinal permeability, decreased secretion of pancreatic
enzymes, impair gall bladder function and decreased bowel motility.
o Decreased HCL can allow parasites and bacteria to pass through the
stomach into the intestines since proper pH of the stomach is the first line
of defense against pathogens.
o Proper levels of Estradiol decrease colonic permeability.
o Progesterone protects the intestinal lining.
o Lack of testosterone delays intestinal healing.
Increased cytokine and antibody production in turn, increases intestinal barrier
permeability and a vicious cycle ensues due to an exaggerated immune response both
within the gut and systemically. These very cytokines, circulating in the blood can then
damage the blood-brain barrier even in the absence of circulating toxins!
Some Foods to avoid if you have Leaky Gut
o Remove all potentially irritating foods and potential allergens. Most common is
gluten, casein (dairy), and soy but should you have a gluten sensitivity, it is
common to have immune responses against gluten-like foods as well (chocolate,
sesame, hemp, buckwheat, sorghum, millet, amaranth, quinoa, yeast, tapioca,
oats, corn, rice, and potato)
o Processed Foods: including canned, boxed and bottled foods
o Sugars: including corn syrup, molasses, honey, chocolate, candy
o High Glycemic Fruits: like potatoes, watermelon, mango, pineapple and raisons

o All Grains: including wheat, oats, rice, soy, corn, wheat germ, quinoa (look up
Paleo Diet)
o Gluten Containing Compounds: such as processed salad dressing, ketchup, soy
sauce, barbecue sauces, mayonnaise, condiments and modified food starch
o Cows milk products: including whey, cheeses, creams, yogurt
o Soy: including soy milk, soy sauce, soy protein, etc.
o Eggs
o Alcohol: including beer, wine, etc.
o Lectins: including nuts, beans, soy, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers,
peanut oil and soy oil
Foods to eat that can Help Leaky Gut
Most Vegetables: except tomatoes, potatoes (sweet potatoes are okay) and
mushrooms
Fermented Foods: like sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled ginger, kombucha tea,
homemade coconut yogurt and pickles
Meats: including fish, chicken, beef, lamb, etc.
Low Glycemic Fruits: including apricots, plums, apples, peaches, pears, cherries
and berries
Coconut: including fresh coconut, coconut oil, coconut milk
Herbal teas, olives, olive oil

The following are some possible things to
consider treating gut pathogens. However, we
strongly suggest that you consult your doctor
before attempting any protocols in this book.
Again, this book is meant to be a guide for your
doctor to test and treat your condition. Finding out
WHY you have a barrier problem is essential in our mind and must not be overlooked. If
your doctor doesnt know how to properly test may I suggest that you find another
doctor? Rarely a week goes by that we dont have a doctor call our office asking to
spend a week here to pick our brains. Personally, I just dont have much left up there
and this is one reason we put this book together and why we hole Clinicals in our office
for practitioners. Have your doctor register under the Doctors only tab on our website
for more in-depth information and details on implementing correction.
Yeast/Candida Intestinal Dysbiosis
o Undecylenic Acid
Learn from yesterday, live for today,
hope for tomorrow. The important
thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein


o Caprylic Acid
o Uva Ursi
o Cat's Claw
o Pau D'Arco
Parasites and other Pathogens
o Olive Leaf Extract
o Garlic Extract
o Wormwood
o Black Walnut
o Medicinal Mushrooms
o Nopal
o Rhubarb root
o Astragalus
o Echinacea
o Licorice root

H Pylori
o Golden Seal Root Extract
o Medicinal Mushrooms
o Oregano Oil Extract
o Barberry Extract
o Grapefruit Seed Extract
o Oregon Grape Root Extract
o Berberis Extract
o Coptis Chinensis Extract
o Yerba Mansa Extract
Intestinal Microbial Support
o Saccharomyces Boulardii
o Lactobacillus Sporogenes
o Lactobacilli Acidophilus
o Arabinogalactin
Restoration and Healthy Maintenance of the Intestinal Mucosa
o L-Glutamine
o Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice
o Aloe Leaf Extract
o Spanish Moss
o Marshmallow Extract
o Gamma Oryzanol
o Immunoglobulin G, A, M, D, and E

o IGF-1 and 2
o Transforming Growth Factors
o Transferrin
o Colostrum
o N-Acetyl Glucosamine
o Modified Citrus Pectin
o Slippery Elm herb
o Mucin
o Chamomile
o Okra Extract
o Cats Claw herb
o MSM
o Quercetin
o Boswelia
o Proline-Rich Polypeptides

Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten Sensitivity is a systemic autoimmune disease attacking everywhere the gliadin
peptides (protein particles) can be found. Gluten, a long-chain protein found in many
grains is a key factor in most GI and autoimmune conditions. It has been said that the
majority of the US population have undiagnosed Gluten Sensitivity. We FIRMLY
believe, even if you test negative for gluten sensitivity, that all patients with brain-based
issues REMOVE ALL GLUTEN FROM THEIR DIET. It is just too inflammatory!
So, it is essential to learn what foods contain gluten. Ill include a list below but I strongly
suggest that you simply Google gluten free diet or gluten free living and you will get a
plethora of information.
Gluten Containing Grains: Wheat, Spelt, Kamut, Oats (technically not a gluten, but
usually gluten contaminated when not from gluten-free farms so you MUST eat only
certified Gluten-free oats), Rye, and Barley.
Some Hidden Sources of Gluten: Soy Sauce, Food Starches, Food Emulsifiers, Artificial
Food Colorings, Malt extract, flavor and syrup, Dextrins
Chronic Stress leads to a breakdown of immune tolerance.
Gluten Sensitivity Testing
For the most part, Gluten Sensitivity testing is insufficient and misses many cases of
Gluten Sensitivity. Most lab testing, (whether it be blood, saliva or stool) measures only
antibodies to Alpha-Gliadin (one specific component of wheat protein). However, wheat

protein consists of other components, all of which have the capacity to challenge the
immune system.
A new, state-of-the-art test from Cyrex Labs, measures immune reactions to 24 different
components found in gluten-containing grains, including the de-aminated glutens found
in processed wheat and wheat germ. Another Lab EnteroLab measures genetic
markers that are turned-on with gluten sensitivity and can be helpful in diagnosing the
entire family with one test.
If sensitivity to gluten or any of its components is discovered, total abstinence is
necessary. The inflammatory responses to even a single portion of gluten, in a sensitive
individual, can set forward a cascade of immunological reactions that can last upwards
to eight months.
Once the gut barrier has been breached, enemies are circulating in the blood and can
damage the next barrier the vessel endothelial layer. The blood vessels barrier is a
single-celled intimal layer that has thousands of different receptors that turn-on
different functions and allow nutrients to pass.
Vascular injury can come from a near infinite number of sources. Chemical insult can
come from Bio-toxins, Nutritional Toxins, and
Metabolic Sterile Antigens (normal
cellular waste). Bio- Mechanical insult can
result from changes in hemodynamics (BP,
Blood flow!). Any insult results in three
possible outcomes: Local inflammation, Oxidative stress, or autoimmune dysfunction; all
three of these are actually correct, though exaggerated responses attempting to heal
the vessel wall.
We believe that though the patient may not need to understand the mechanisms
involved, the doctor should become familiar with endothelial dysfunction to better think-
through strategic methods of repair. So Im going to bore you with a lot of cellular
biology for a few pages.
For the Doctor
Local Inflammation is increased in vessels and kidneys as demonstrated with lab
values showing increased hsCRP (IL-1b, IL-6, TNFalpha), leucocytosis, increased
Neutrophils, and increased Lymphocytes. Increased RAAS (renin-angiotensin-
aldosterone system) reveals inflammation in the Kidneys commonly due to endothelial
damage. It is helpful to measure these markers.
Oxidative Stress (ROS (Radical Oxygen Species) and RNS (Radical Nitrogen Species))
is increased in arteries and kidneys along with a decreased oxidative defense.
We must accept finite
disappointment, but never lose
infinite hope.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Autoimmune dysfunction of the arteries and kidneys will reveal increased WBCs,
involvement of CD4+ and CD8+, Th1/Th2 dominance as measured by cytokines and
elevated CRP.
As stated, the intimal lining is a continuous parallel sheet of cells, an interface between
the blood vessel and blood (lumen). It releases vasoactive substances that regulate all
endothelial function, vascular smooth muscle (VSM), and affecting the circulating blood.
Its major function is to maintain appropriate vasomotor tone, especially in the coronary
arteries and systemic resistance arteries. It is a living barrier maintaining vascular
homeostasis allowing selective permeability, acting as a monitor and transducer of
blood-borne signals, is a source and target of physiological response modifiers, an
integrator of local pathophysiologic milieu, and offers dynamic regulation of hemostasis
and thrombosis, vascular growth and remodeling, and inflammatory and immune
reactions. So, please dont tell me its not important in brain-based patients! For the
sake of this discussion, we will keep content associated to the intimas role in
inflammation and autoimmune control.
Endothelial receptors are transmembrane
proteins on the cell membrane that specifically or
selectively bind to extracellular (intraluminal)
ligands. Several types of receptors have been
identified as frequent participants in signaling
endothelial hyper-permeability, including receptor
tyrosine kinases (RTKs), G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and integrin receptors.
An example of RTKs would be the receptors of many growth factors, e.g., fibroblast
growth factor (FGF) and VEGF. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is an
angiogenic cytokine (increases growth of new vessels) that was initially identified as a
potent endothelial permeability-increasing factor. VEGF-induced hyper-permeability is
involved in tumor development, diabetic retinopathy, and ischemia/reperfusion injury.
VEGF binds to tyrosine kinase receptor subtypes. Practically speaking, healing the BBB
would involve down-regulating VEGF-RTKs.
Many permeability-increasing agents (e.g., histamine, thrombin, or bradykinin) signal
through GPCRs. Each type of GPCR is coupled to a specific subtype of G-protein,
which will initiate specific series of intracellular signaling events. Thrombin is a serine
protease that cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin forming the base for blood clots during
intrinsic or extrinsic (caused by injury) activation of coagulation. Thrombin also induces
endothelial hyper-permeability by binding to protease-activated receptors (PARs) on the
endothelial cell surface.
Bradykinin is produced during inflammation or ischemia/reperfusion injury. Occupancy
of the bradykinin B2 receptor on microvascular endothelial cells increases cytosolic
Ca2+ via similar mechanisms to those of the histamine H1 receptor or PAR-1, and
To survive and prosper, we must
think differently and make different
choices than we have made in the
past.
- Margaret M. Polski, Wired for
Survival

activates membrane-bound phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to produce arachidonic acid (AA).
AA metabolism by lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase (COX) produces leukotrienes,
prostanglandins, and thromboxin A2. Most of these metabolites have been shown to
cause endothelial dysfunction.
Peroxidative mechanisms have consistently been implicated in demyelinating diseases,
and the application of antioxidants has been shown to offer clinical improvements.
Though the majority of investigations into the role of these redox imbalances have
focused on direct damage to the myelin (in MS and ALS patients) the initial oxidative
stress is happening at the vascular level, then the astrocyte border, followed by direct
attack on oligodendricytes. Increased BBB permeability does result from increased free
radicals entering the CNS, so the subsequent administration of antioxidants can restore
balance at all three levels.
Sources of oxidative stress need to be identified and addressed as the initial cause is
usually distant from the BBB. An often overlooked source of oxidative stress is
imbalanced hepatic detoxification, wherein Phase I detoxification exceeds the capacity
of Phase II detoxification and a buildup of exudate follows. As a result, numerous free
radicals are generated. Think of things like Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), N-Acetyl L
Cysteine, Cordyceps, Gotu Kola, Fish Oils (I suggest a balanced mix), Quercetin,
Stinging Nettle, Rutin, Bromelain, and Curcumin.
Intracellular messenger cAMP improves endothelial barrier function and protects
microvasculature from hyper-permeability. Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived free radical
produced in response to phosphorylation and activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS).
Three isoforms of NOS have been implicated in inflammatory responses: endothelial
(eNOS; NOS1), inducible (iNOS; NOS2), and neuronal (nNOS; NOS3). The role of NO
in regulating endothelial barrier function is controversial. NO has opposing effects on
endothelial permeability depending upon the endothelial tissue examined but is thought
to have a role of vasodilation in in both the heart and the brain. NO serves as a
vasodilator and factors that stimulate NO production should be considered. Think of
using natural Calcium and Sodium channel blockers such as Hawthorn, Cornflower,
Centaury, Lemon Balm, Motherwort, and Valerian Root. Garlic, Calcium, Magnesium,
CoQ10, Fish oils, L-arginine, and L-citrulline are also things to consider.
In order to help Nitric Oxide to work properly, co-factors essential for function include
Calmodulin, BH4 tetrahydrobiopterin, Flavin Redox co-factors (FAD, FMN),Glutatione
precursors, ALA, NAC, Whey protein, Niacinamide, Thiol and Sulfydryal groups, SNO
(S-nitrosothiols) organosulfur coumpounds also known as Mercaptans as they bond
so strongly to Hg (Garlic, MSM, and ALA).
Metal-NO Complexes are very mineral dependent so Zinc and Copper deficiencies can
offset gain in stimulating production. Also, because of the NO-metal complex, heavy
metal toxicity can displace minerals and lead to greater damage in NO function. Clinical

pearl heavy metal toxicity interrupts NO function as the heavy metals displace Zinc
and Copper in the metal-NO complex. Unfortunately, people take elemental Iron for
anemia and Iodine for thyroid issues that also bind to NO complexes and cause
problems. Only use plant-source minerals!!! Peoples Centrum can actually be causing
their BBB disruption and their high blood pressure!
Protein phosphorylation regulated by protein kinases and phosphatases is a major
determinant of endothelial barrier function. However, kinase-dependent signaling can be
exceptionally complex being that there are more than 500 protein kinases in the human
genome.
Inflammatory eicosanoids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) derived from arachidonic
acid, may also be responsible for disrupting the BBB. Research shows a significantly
higher production of PGE2 in patients with chronic progressive brain-based disorders.
Lab lipid profiles of these patients reveal staggering deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids,
precursors of the less inflammatory PGE3. It makes one think that dietary changes in
fatty acid intake to modulate prostaglandin production remain essential to integrative
treatment protocols. Also, natural agents that block the actions of cyclooxygenase
(COX) and 5-lipoxygenase can help prevent BBB disruptions; however, using
pharmaceuticals like that block COX2 with
ramp-up PGE2 and cause more distruction. This
is the scuttlebutt about . Nutritional
considerations that block these enzymes include
bromelain, pancreatic enzyme, curcumin, ginger,
quercetin, and other bioflavonoids.
Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of 29
proteases that are dependent upon metal (zinc)
ions for their proteolytic activity. Activated MMPs
cleave components of the endothelial
extracellular matrix during normal remodeling and
maintenance of the basement membrane and can cause microvascular barrier
dysfunction under pathophysiological conditions like local infiltration of antigens or
cytokines from a distant inflammatory process. Here is another example of cell barrier
damage downstream from a primary immune stimulation event.
ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases) are a family of 40 known genes,
encoding at least 21 human functional proteins involved in tumor metastasis,
angiogenesis, and inflammation. During inflammation, ADAM15 mediates endothelial
hyper-permeability via a mechanism that does not require the proteolytic activity of its
extracellular domain [435]. Rather, the cytosolic C-terminus initiates signaling through
Src kinase and ERK1/2 to signal endothelial hyperpermeability. This signaling
mechanism contributes to microvascular fluid leakage in the lungs of mice in response
Your time is limited, so don't waste
it living someone else's life. Don't
be trapped by dogma - which is
living with the results of other
people's thinking. Don't let the
noise of others' opinions drown out
your own inner voice. And most
important, have the courage to
follow your heart and intuition.
Steve Jobs

to systemic exposure to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), and is involved in
pneumonia-induced lung injury in humans
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes, secreted by immune cells, which can
dissolve components of the extracellular matrix. For most parts of the body, these
actions are useful in allowing white blood cells access to areas of injury or infection.
However, release of these enzymes in CNS capillaries can result in BBB breakdown.
Inhibition of these enzymes should be considered.
Flavonoids, well-known for their capillary-strengthening effects, can inhibit the activity of
MMPs. Flavonoids, particularly proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, are taken up into
the cellular matrix. Receptor sites on the flavonoids bind metalloproteinase enzymes,
thereby preventing their liquefying effect on the matrix. Bilberry anthocyanosides have
been shown to restore damaged BBB permeability. Flavonoids are also highly anti-
inflammatory and potent antioxidants, giving you another reason to eat your fruits and
vegetables. Supplementation consideration should include bilberry (with 25%
anthocyanin content, 80-160 mg. tid). Grape seed or pine bark extracts (150-300
mg/day) can be added for their proanthocyandin content, Bugleweed, Calendula, and
Green Tea extract.
Understand that etiological theories of brain disorders, lets use MS as an example,
concentrate on a systemic immune response damaging intra-CNS structures. Research
has shown that the development of myelin-sensitized lymphocytes as a causative factor
but if the patient had an intact BBB, this would be irrelevant, because normally the
blood-brain barrier (BBB) denies these cells access to the brain and spinal cord. This
brings us back to a dysfunction of the BBB contributes to MS.
Also understand that the vascular barrier that first must be penetrated undergoes
moment-to-moment changes at the cytoskeleton, cellcell junction complexes, and cell
attachments to extracellular matrix and basement membrane. Appropriate regulation of
these events maintains a low and selective permeability to fluid and solutes under
normal physiological conditions. As we discussed, endothelial barrier dysfunction occurs
during stimulation by inflammatory agents, pathogens, activated blood cells,
endogenous cytokines, heavy metal or other toxins (vaccinations), or other disease
states.
This explains why two individuals given the same dose of toxin would/could react very
different as far as the effect on the CNS. If the blood-brain barrier is not working
properly to screen out and prevent entry of unwanted immunological agents/toxins into
the CNS, that individual will experience greater influx of toxic substances in the brain.
Hence, a person with myelin-sensitized lymphocytes, who also experiences a
weakening of the BBB, is likely to develop MS symptoms with the severity of symptoms
depending on the extent of BBB disruption. Individuals with a rapid, galloping
progression of MS may actually be displaying a pronounced BBB dysfunction. In

contrast, those who have a slow, relapsing/remitting course may have periods of better
BBB integrity. Carry this same example to any brain based disorder.
Thiamin is known to strengthen the blood-brain barrier, and thiamin deficiencies have
been demonstrated to result in problems. Who in the world would have a thiamin
deficiency today? Well, its worse than youd think. Supplementation of synthetic B
vitamins as are used in nearly every OTC B supplement as were as added B vitamins in
foods that are fortified is exactly what can cause a B vitamin deficiency! Counter-think?
Well, though synthetic B vitamins (made from coal tar derivatives) may act similar to
natural B vitamins in some people, in many they do not. BBB compromise due to
hypothiaminosis is manifested by loosening cell-to-cell adhesion of vascular endothelial
cells and allowing immunoglobulins to pass across the BBB. Every brain-base patient
should consider a natural source B vitamin we use Premiere Research Labs and
Standard Process Labs. These give the patient the added benefit in supporting liver
detoxification pathways as well.
Elevated blood homocysteine levels are known for their association with cardiovascular
disease, but homocysteine is equally a vascular toxin in cerebrovascular damage. As
with thiamin deficiency, the B vitamins along with folate in the form of 5-
methyltetrahydrafolate are key homocysteine-reducing nutrients.
Platelet activating factor (PAF), and inflammatory cytokine, is produced by endothelial
cells (also by platelets, monocytes, and macrophages). PAF increases BBB
permeability. Some natural agents to consider that have been shown to inhibit PAF
include decosahexanoic acid (DHA) from fish oil, and Ginkgo biloba which are potent
PAF antagonists. One experimental study of 10 patients with MS in acute relapse who
received therapy with Ginkgo (80mg, tid) led to improved neurological scores in 80% of
patients.

Summary for Patients
Our understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the BBB is still in its infancy.
There is much to learn about the role of the BBB in the pathogenesis of MS. Certainly,
it still makes sense to focus on the modulation of the immune aspects of the disease.
However, addressing the dynamics of BBB integrity may improve the efficacy of
treatments for MS. Complementary therapies that protect BBB integrity may provide an
excellent adjunct to conventional therapies.

Natural supplements to consider to help heal BBB permeability:

o Whole-food Vitamin B (we use Premiere Research Labs and Stand Process
these have the proper type of folate in them)
o Phosphatidylserine (PS)
o Ginkgo
o Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
o Whole-food Vitamin C
o Vitamin E (gamma tocopherol and the tocotrienols)
o Bilberry
o Grape seed extract
o Pine bark extract
o Pycnogenol
o Bromelain
o Curcumin
o Ginger
o Quercetin
o Omega 3 Fish Oils
o Bugleweed
o Calendula
o Pancreatic enzymes
o N-Acetyl L Cysteine
o Cordyceps and other medicinal mushrooms
o Stinging Nettle
o Rutin
o Whey protein
o Niacinamide
o Thiol and Sulfydryal groups
o Garlic
o MSM
o Minerals especially Zinc and Copper

There are different products on the market that contain a variety of the above
ingredients aimed at healing the damaged borders. It has always been our opinion to
seek appropriate medical care from a qualified functional medical doctor/neurologist
before embarking on any protocol and, once again, this book is meant to lay out a
general understanding and not meant to be a protocol to follow without the help of a
physician.

If you need help finding a qualified physician, please e-mail us at the email listed below.
We see patients from around the world that fly in to Minnesota and spend a week or so
with us but we also understand that we cannot possibly see everyone in need. This is
why weve taught doctor seminars and have added a link on our website for practitioner
education.


Again, seek more information on our website where you can download ALL of Dr.
Conners books and much more helpful data:

www.UpperRoomWellness.com

upperroomwc@gmail.com

The Addicted Brain
I personally know physicians who, despite all their knowledge of destruction of neural
tissue with alcohol consumption, continue to consume mass quantities on a more than
regular basis. Weve all seen pictures of individuals continue to smoke through a
tracheotomy tube after a laryngectomy for cancer; and, despite loss of employment,
health, family and life-threatening complications of disease, many people continue to
drink alcohol or take drugs even when doing so yields depression and misery rather
than pleasure.
These examples highlight the central question of any addiction: Why do we continue
destructive behavior even when we know it is highly destructive and what happens in
the brain to cause an addicted person to
seemingly lose control of their will?
Neuroscientists have identified specific pathways
that fire with use of every known drug of abuse,
and they have specified common neural areas
that are affected by almost all such drugs.
Researchers have also identified the major
receptors for virtually every chemical addition, as well as the natural ligands (that which
are supposed to connect to) for most of those receptors. In addition, they have
explained many of the biochemical cascades within the cell that follow receptor
activation by drugs.
Research has also begun to reveal major differences between the brains of addicted
and non-addicted, regardless of the substance. Virtually all drugs of abuse have
common effects, either directly or indirectly, on a single pathway deep within the brain.
This pathway, the mesolimbic reward system, extends from the ventral tegmentum to
the nucleus accumbens, with projections to areas such as the limbic system and the
orbitofrontal cortex. Stimulation of this system appears to be a common element in what
keeps drug users taking drugs what is called the addictive cycle. This activity is not
unique to any one drug; all addictive substances affect this circuit in some way or
another.
There is much evidence that the dopaminergic system is the major substrate of reward
and reinforcement for both natural rewards and addictive behavior. This is known as the
I learned that courage was not the
absence of fear, but the triumph
over it. The brave man is not he who
does not feel afraid, but he who
conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela

mesolimbic pathway; they are dopamine driven pathways that begin in the ventral
tegmental area, an area in the mesencephalon of the midbrain important in cognition,
motivation, orgasm, drug addiction, intense emotions relating to love, any behavioral
addiction and several psychiatric disorders. This mesencephalic area connects to the
limbic system via the nucleus accumbens (NAc), the amygdala, and the hippocampus
as well as to the medial prefrontal cortex.
The NAc is involved in responding to the motivational significance of stimuli, and the
dorsal striatum (major input station of the basal ganglia system) is involved in the
learning and execution of behavioral sequences that permit an effective response to
those cues. Addictive drugs as well as reinforced addictions increase the levels of
synaptic dopamine in the NAc;
Opiates represent a partial exception to the central role of dopamine. Although opiates
can produce reinforcement by dopamine release, they can also interact directly with
opioid receptors on NAc neurons. Under normal circumstances, this dopaminergic
circuit is a crucial substrate for the rewarding and reinforcing effects of positive natural
stimuli associated with survival, such as food and reproductive opportunities.
I find it fascinating that these striatal connections are best known for planning and action
of movement pathways (to the motor cortex) but also involved in a variety of other
cognitive processes involving executive function (from the pre-frontal cortex), such as
working memory. In humans, the striatum is activated by stimuli associated with reward,
but also by aversive, novel, unexpected, or intense stimuli (typically from the RIGHT
prefrontal cortex). Think about this; addictions may be linked as a survival mechanism in
an individuals attempt to keep the prefrontal cortex alive!
Whether related to addiction or survival, actions that increase synaptic dopamine in this
brain reward circuitry tend to be repeated. Understanding that addiction is, at its core, a
brain pathway disorder, changing the function of said pathways means that a major goal
of treatment must be either to un-pave the hyper-stimulated pathways and re-pave
the inhibitory tracts. The powerful control over behavior exerted by addictions results
from the brains inability to distinguish between the activation of the reward loop by
naturally rewarding activities, such as healthy eating habits, healthy sex lives, healthy
levels of alcohol consumption, and by the overconsumption, over-use, and over-
indulgence as seen in addictive behavior. This inability to put on the brakes is a lesion
in the above described pathway from and to the prefrontal cortex. Remember, the
prefrontal cortical firings onto midbrain centers are inhibitory; absence of said
connections equals the absence of inhibition of behavior.
Therapy for Addictions
Whenever we pursue attractive goals, the neurochemical dopamine is released.
Dopamine is absorbed by brain structures responsible for narrowed attention, effortful

action, and above all, desirethe visceral thrust that motivates goal seeking. When
addiction sets inwhether to drugs, booze, cigarettes, sex, gambling, food, or
something else, what starts out as an episode of pleasure (or relief) begins to control
the dopamine pump. Soon, dopamine release is determined by the anticipation of
getting more, and the overlapping neural networks of desire and intentional action are
increasingly tuned to that singular goal the thrill of the hunt. The problem with
addictions is that those specific networks also become less and less sensitive to other
goals. This is why therapy designed at firing prefrontal cortical pathways is best for
unwinding the addictive personality.
Again, as addictive behavior is reinforced (repeated), areas of the cortex that represent
whats important and valuable (the addiction) become four-lane freeways. More and
more synapses are devoted to the addictive behavior: thinking, reminiscing, planning,
imaginingconstructing intricate strategies for getting, all pave the path, not just the
behavior itself. That is, thinking about drinking alcohol fires the same pathway as the act
itself! At the same time, cortical regions responsible for cognitive control and self-
monitoring become less effective; its as if they become dirt pathways until they are
eventually overgrown and turn back into forest.
So, treatment must begin with removing any obstacles to the pathway and then firing
those neurons as if you are reconstructing lost trails into interstate systems. This is the
beauty of Neurofeedback and daily brain-based therapies. Also consider
neurotransmitter support with nutritional precursors and homeopaths. Most importantly,
find a competent functional neurologist who will assess you as described below.

For the Doctor:

Chronic Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections

The effects of chronic inflammatory cytokines in tissues due to gram-negative bacteria
are grossly destructive and seldom addressed as cause. Depending on the tissue
involved, patients will be properly diagnosed with a disease that improperly omits the
source. Biomarkers that hint at gram-negative bacterial infiltration are elevated CRP,
elevated Homocysteine, elevated inflammatory cytokines, elevated white cells, and
other inflammatory markers but none are specifically definitive and the doctor must
discern from the overall picture of the patient.

For example, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine and inflammatory
cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk
as homocysteine increases the production of MCP-1 and IL-8 in endothelial cells. These
are just signs however, like a crossed, double-R warning of a railroad crossing. Most
doctors will warn their patients of the cardiovascular risk, administer treatment for

associated signs such as high blood pressure or abnormal lipids and completely ignore
the roaring train ready to crush the patients vehicle sitting on the tracks.

In the CNS, chronic microglial activation contributes to neuronal damage in
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers disease (AD), and other dementias,
Brain Cancer, Encephalitis, Epilepsy, Genetic Brain Disorders, Head and Brain
Malformations, Hydrocephalus, Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Huntington's Disease,
Prion Diseases, and others. Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in
neuroinflammatory disorders such as Anxiety and Depression, and even childhood
disorders such as ASD.

The term nitrosative stress is used to indicate the cellular damage elicited by reactive
nitrogen species (RNS), including nitric oxide (NO) and its congeners peroxynitrite
(OONO
%
). Here we are referring to iNOS as it relates to its intracellular up-regulation as
is common in chronic infection. Free radicals are generated in the brain during normal
intake of oxygen and to a greater degree, during infection. Oxidative damage is a likely
outcome in chronic, low-grade infection in the brain because it is exposed to high
oxygen concentrationsutilizing about one-fifth of the oxygen consumed by the body;
contains relatively poor concentrations of antioxidants; is enriched in iron, which is a
potent catalyst for oxidative species formation; and is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids,
which are themselves prone to oxidation.

It is widely accepted that Oxidative Stress (OS) increases as we age, and it can be
considered an important age-dependent factor making the brain more susceptible to
several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's
disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and chronic infection. Several studies
show markers of oxidative damage and neuroinflammationsuch as glial activation, up-
regulation of cytokines, lipid peroxidation, and protein and DNA oxidationin the
affected brain regions. Cytokine-stimulated microglia generate significant amounts of
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RNS) leading to neurotoxicity. An age-dependent
increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be directly responsible for amyloid
precursor protein (APP) cleavage to A& production resulting in sporadic AD.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease that has both
autoimmune and OS ties. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to OS, generated in
excess primarily by macrophages, have been implicated as mediators of demyelination
and axonal damage in MS. ROS cause damage to cellular components such as lipids,
proteins, and nucleic acids, thereby resulting in early cell death and subsequent
immune responses against self-antigens as dead and dying cells become a major
source of the self-antigens. This is true not just in MS but may be the etiology of Lupus,
ALS, Chronic Lyme disease (CLD) and other neurological disorders with autoimmune
components.

Let me summarize the pathogenesis due to toxic exposure this way:

1. Environmental factors such as toxins enter the CNS through damages in the
BBB.

2. Toxins produce an oxidative stress (OS) by inducing early cell death, ROS, and
subsequent self-tissue breakdown from dying and dead cells that builds up faster
than can be carried away
3. The self-tissue build-up of apoptotic debris is recognized by microglial cells as
antigens, which leads to up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CNS
and creation of an autoimmune response.
4. A cycle of destruction ensues further as B-cells produce antibodies and T-cells
destroy self-tissue

Similar pathology regarding the presence of infection may be explained:
1. Chronic, subclinical (often gram-negative) bacteria cross the BBB
2. Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from the bacteria attract a Th1 response from
microglial cells.
3. As bacteria are destroyed, they release debris in the form of endotoxins that illicit
further inflammatory responses from CNS microglial cells and the cytokines not
only produce ROS and RNS but also further iNOS production continues neuronal
destruction as bacteria pursue intracellular pathways of protection against
immune responses.
4. Neuronal destruction takes place via two pathways: direct destruction as
described above with autoimmune responses to the tissue itself and indirect
destruction with oxidative stress.

Another factor propagating an autoimmune disorder in either of the above two scenarios
is the roll of a faltered apoptotic response in the immune system itself. Normal
programmed apoptosis in the immune system is critical for maintaining self-tolerance
and preventing autoimmunity. Oxidative stress and/or chronic infection, coupled with an
inhibited apoptotic process in lymphocytes or dendritic cells spells disaster!

When I write about apoptotic malfunctions, Im usually using cancer in the same
paragraph yet here, with defective dendritic cell apoptosis, we see resulting
accumulation of and, chronic lymphocyte activation and systemic autoimmune
manifestations with all sorts of different names. Fas (also known as Apo-1 and CD95)
receptors have been suggested to control T cell expansion by triggering T cell-
apoptosis. Other receptors are also being identified and though it is unclear why down-
regulation of these receptors takes place, as in cancer, many possible mechanisms
exist for their malfunction including the very toxin or infection in question.

Note: This same model can be interpolated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients as
the inflammatory response in trauma mimics that of infection, especially in repetitive
traumas.

Lets understand the infectious process better. In the case of gram-negative bacteria,
which were proposing to be the primary culprit in many cases, infiltration into the CNS
requires damage to the BBB. This can be a closed system as the bacteria itself is
perfectly capable of damaging endothelial lining and breaking the astrocyte border.
Gram-negative bacteria have a peculiar cell membrane consisting of a polysaccharide
chain and a lipid portion known as lipid A, collectively, we call this a lipopolysaccharide
(LPS). Lipid A is hydrophobic in nature and is toxic in itself, however, the importance to

the human immune system is what we are interested in as LPSs stimulate a strong Th1,
T-cell response. As immune cells breakdown gram-negative bacteria, LPS is released;
this LPS is known as an endotoxin.

LPSs then possess a unique ability to cause disease. Inflammatory cytokines recognize
these remnants of bacterial cell walls as enemies and the endotoxins become antigens
in an endless cycle of bacterial proliferation, immune stimulation, bacterial breakdown
releasing LPS, immune stimulation against LPS endotoxins, renewed bacterial
proliferation, renewed immune stimulation, excessive release of LPSs, increase up-
regulation of destructive cytokines, as so on, as so forth. The patient is left with a
progressive tissue, autoimmune disorder wherever the primary infection began and is
given diagnoses such as Endothelial dysfunction (if the primary destruction is giving the
patient heart symptoms), MS, AD, etc. if the infection expresses in the CNS, or cancer.

You see, if you simply recognize an inflammatory process and attempt to quench the
inflammation, you increase the chronicity of the disorder and do little to help the patient!
Below are the gram-negative bacteria that are responsible parties in such infectious
cycles:

Acetobacter - Acetic acid from ethanol and pose no threat to humans
Borrelia Spirochete from ticks commonly causing Lyme Disease and are
common culprits causing neurological syndromes
Bordatella causing Pertussis
Burkholderia causing B cepacia common in Cystic Fibrosis patients. Due to
their antibiotic resistance and the high mortality rate from their associated
diseases B. mallei and B psuedomallei are considered to be potential biological
warfare agents, targeting livestock and humans
Campylobacter causing GI infections as a common food-borne infectious
disease
Chlamydia - Intercellular Parasite group causing STDs and walking pneumonia.
Is a common cause of endothelial disease
Enterobacter causing many UTI (urinary tract infections) and GI infections.
There are some studies that reveal a sharp increase in Enterobacter species and
subsequent endotoxin inflammation in the GI tracts of obese patients.
Escherichia (E. coli) found in normal GI tract flora yet imbalance causes many
issues in certain species.
Fusobacterium contribute to a variety of disease including Gingivitis,
Periodontal disease, Cancers of the GI tract, Ulcerative Colitis, and Endothelial
disease (therefore BBB disruption)
Helicobacter possible the most prevalent of all gram-negative bacteria in
humans, Helicobacter contributes to too many disease to list including Peptic
Ulcer, Endothelial Disease, any Cancer, skin lesions, neurodegenerative
disorders such as MS, AD, and ALS, and many autoimmune disorders.
Haemophilus causing H influenza, URI (upper respiratory infections),
Epiglottitis, Meningitis, Otitis, etc.
Klebsiella causing Hemorrhagic pneumonia, UTI, skin infections, and soft
tissue infections
Legionella causing the pneumonia of the Legionnaires disease

Leptospira Spirochete causing leptospirosis, can cause a wide range of
symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases. Some infected
persons, however, may have no symptoms at all. Without treatment,
Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the
membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress,
and even death
Neisseria causing N gonorrhea, N meningitides
Nitrobacter - Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Proteus - causing Opportunistic UTI. About 10-15% of kidney stones are caused
by alkalization of the urine by the action of the urease enzyme from Proteus
Pseudomonas - causing Nosocomial infections (acquired at a hospital), common
in burn patients, and Cystic Fibrosis patients
Rickettsia - causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Salmonella causing typhus, Food poisoning
Serratia - causing Opportunistic UTIs, Respiratory Infections
Shigella - causing Dysentery
Thiobacter - Sulfur reducing
Treponema Spirochete, T pallidum - causing Syphilis
Vibrio causing Cholera, GI disease usually associated with eating undercooked
seafood.
Yersinia plague causing bacteria that, like Shigella, hides within host
macrophages

Treatment MUST be centered on correcting the cause. Infectious organisms MUST be
dealt with or you (the practitioner) risk increasing the tissue destruction and actually
worsening the patients condition.

The difficulty in killing these diseases is threefold:

1) The problem with using direct-contact agents such as antibiotics is that the
bacteria, in a micro-evolutionary attempt at survival, will morph its frequency to
stay alive. This is why Legionella, for example, was the mystery of a 1976
American Legion convention killing 34 people and sickening 221 others. Was it a
new disease? Why are antibiotic-resistant bacteria the fear of hospital workers?
Its not the fault of the antibiotics or even over-prescription; it is the resilience of
the Bacteria, regardless of the circumstances, to morph its biological frequency
to re-create itself one could say.
2) Using herbal stimulants, commonly prescribed by natural doctors and used by
millions may do more harm than good. If the disorder has progressed to a Th1,
pro-inflammatory process as described above, stimulation to the immune
response will bring greater destruction of self-tissue! This is NOT a good idea!
3) Lab identification is extremely difficult as the chance that organism will show up
in a blood test is highly unlikely. Gram-negative bacteria are insidious as many
have the ability to hide intracellularly, entering the cell cytoplasm similar to
strategies of certain virus through cell membrane receptors. Here they evade
immune destruction and are able to reproduce and create an ongoing cycle. The
bacteria that remain extracellular remain in tissue where their death releases
LPS endotoxin debris that creates the autoimmune process. Attempting solely to

kill the bacteria with chemical agents (either antibiotics or herbal immune
stimulators) will prove futile should the process have had any considerable
amount of time to take hold.

It is our recommendation that one must utilize frequency medicine in eradicating such
intruders. This is the only way one can adequately account for both survival
mechanisms employed by the bacteria its constant micro evolutional form-change and
its stealth-like ability to hide within the hosts cells.

Chronic Lyme disease is the easiest example as the Borrelia bacteria can only be killed
by antibiotics within a specific window of time prior to their invasion of cellular cytoplasm
and forever hiding away from mainstream medical approaches. Another, Shigella
flexneri, a bacterium that infects people through feces-contaminated food and causes
severe diarrhea and vomiting, first attaches to and then penetrates macrophagesthe
very immune cells that are supposed to devour invading pathogensas they patrol the
intestines. Shigella multiplies inside the macrophage cells, where it is unchallenged by
the immune system attempting to kill it like a bank robber escaping in the police car that
is searching for him. Eventually, the infected macrophage dies and releases new
bacteria that spread to and infect nearby epithelial cells and cause destruction of the
intestinal tissue.

Another type of bacterium, Mycoplasma, composes a ubiquitous group of minute
microorganisms that lack a cell wall. Of the seven species, which have been isolated
from man, only Mycoplasma pneumonia (commonly known as walking pneumonia) has

clearly established pathogenicity. Research continues to seek other possible disease
relationships, since there are various animal diseases caused by mycoplasmas, which
have counterparts among human illnesses of unknown cause. Cancer research has
concentrated on mycoplasmas since many cancers have shown to possess a higher
concentration of mycoplasma infection than normal tissue. M. Pneumonia can be
associated with a wide spectrum of respiratory tract disease, including bullous
myringitis, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, and other subclinical infections
that can lead to autoimmune responses. Like their gram-negative counterparts,
mycoplasmas are rarely diagnosed as the disease-causers that they are.

Bottom-line take home:

1. Either develop a way to properly diagnose stealth infectious diseases with
techniques such as kinesiology or recognize the secret signs hidden in the
inflammatory markers.
2. Treat the cause with appropriate pharmaceutical and nutraceutical measures
respecting a probable immune dominance (usually Th1 dominant).
3. Learn to incorporate Rife and other frequency technology to assist the
destruction of the organism in question.
4. Then you may take measures to reduce inflammation.

Anxiety, Depression & Postpartum Depression Neurology

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a potentially debilitating disorder that develops in a
significant and ever increasing percentage of women during the first year after giving
birth. Women afflicted with PPD can even experience long-term consequences,
including sadness, guilt, and despair and their offspring may be affected as well. Two
biological systems that may play a significant role during the postpartum period are the
immune system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Dysregulation in
either system individually or in their bidirectional interaction is associated with the
development of PPD.

One particular observation has focused on
studies revealing PPD womens regulation of the
HPA axis components, adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH) and subsequent release of
cortisol by the adrenals. While PPD women seem
to have a normal spike of ACTH (the pituitary
hormone that stimulates the release of cortisol)
under stress conditions, there is a definite
suppression in the adrenal response.

The action of CRH (CRH is secreted by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the
You gain strength, courage, and
confidence by every experience in
which you really stop to look fear in
the face. You are able to say to
yourself, 'I lived through this
horror. I can take the next thing that
comes along.'
Eleanor Roosevelt

hypothalamus in response to stress) on ACTH (in pituitary) release is strongly
potentiated by vasopressin that is also produced in increasing amounts when the
hypothalamic paraventricular neurons are chronically activated. The end action of CRH
is immunosuppression, suppression of detox pathways, and increase in release of
glucose stores via the action of cortisol, CRH itself can heighten inflammation,
particularly locally in the CNS, increasing the risk of neurogenic disorders.
Vasopressin stimulates ACTH release in humans and hence cortisol; its antagonist,
oxytocin inhibits it. There is interesting research on oxytocin, thought of as the bonding
hormone because of its release in intimate moments that bring about the feeling of love,
nurture, and connection; some believe that stimulating its production either through
neuronal pathways, metabolic precursors, or direct supplementation of the hormone
may help depressed and anxious patients. This also makes sense in PPD patients. If
they have ramped-up ACTH pathways, suppression of the antagonistic oxytocin
pathways will lead to the failure to bond patterns common in PPD women.

Side note common with many other frontal lobe disorder patients, including
depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, can be increased ACTH pathways and subsequently
suppressed oxytocin secretion. This can explain many of the symptoms found in these
disorders including lack of bonding, difficulty in social situations, and general lack of
empathy for others, etc.

ACTH release results in the release of corticosteroids from the adrenal that,
subsequently, through mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, exert negative
feedback on direct brain pathways in the hippocampus, the pituitary and the
hypothalamus. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and major depression the HPA-axis is
hyperactive. Increased production of vasopressin in depression may lead to increased
plasma levels of vasopressin that have been related to an enhanced suicide risk. The
increased firing activity of oxytocin neurons (possibly in an attempt to keep them alive)
in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) may be related to the eating disorders in
depression and similar brain disorders.

In depressed women, plasma levels of estrogen are usually lower and plasma levels of
androgens are increased, while testosterone levels are decreased in depressed men.
This is explained by the fact that both in depressed males and females the HPA-axis is
increased in activity, parallel to a diminished HPG-axis (gonadal), while the major
source of androgens in women is the adrenal, whereas in men it is the testes. Therefore
it seems important to not only balance brain output to these structures but to look at
metabolic disturbances as well.

Environmental toxic exposures include pesticides, most notably glyphosate (Roundup);
industrial chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PDBE) flame retardants (in
all childrens clothing), pthalates, bisphenol A (BPA found in most plastics); neurotoxic
metals such as mercury and aluminum (tooth fillings, vaccinations, many other things);
and carcinogens such as dioxins. With 80,000 registered agents in the Toxic
Substances Inventory, only 200 have been studied for human safety parameters. An
important case series supported by the Environmental Working Group and the Red
Cross examined umbilical cords, identifying 287 toxic chemicals, 217 of which are
known neurotoxins! PDBE and BPA have been associated with adverse cognitive,

endocrine and motor outcomes in children, and while ubiquitous, may represent a
modifiable exposure in our immediate environment. We need to make better choices in
purchases you can find organic childrens clothing. Even though these may be more
expensive, demand will drive the prices downward.

A relatively recent discovery is the psycho-neuro-immunologic bridgethe kynurenine
pathway (a tryptophan metabolite). The kynurenine: tryptophan ratio has been used as
a marker of inflammation correlated with postpartum depressive behaviors and states.
Inflammatory messengers, cytokines IL6 and TNF-alpha, have been demonstrated to be
elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of women at the time of their childbirth, who then
presented with depression six weeks postpartum. Similarly, elevated levels of IL-1B
predicted postpartum depressive symptoms. In the non-pregnant population,
inflammatory underpinnings of depressive illness (cytokines, chemokines, reactive
proteins, adhesion molecules) have been well-established, and anti-inflammatory
interventions should be explored as these inflammatory agents result in a net decrease
of serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with a happier you.

Possible markers to check:

- Homocysteine
- CRP
- Fasting insulin/glucose
- HgA1C
- Vitamin D 25 OH and 1,25
- Methylmalonic acid
- TSH, free T3, free T4 and thyroid antibodies
- Celiac panel
- Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genetic profile.

Dementias

Dementia is not a specific disease but a term that describes a wide range of symptoms
associated with a decline in memory or other cognitive skills severe enough to reduce a
person's ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimers disease is the most common
dementia and what is important to note is any dementia is NOT normal. It is important to
note that early signs of cognitive decline spell one thing brain inflammation. This is
why we have questions on our New Patient intake forms like: Do you have brain fog,
memory loss, forgetfulness, etc.?


Dont ignore the early onset signs of dementia as it is usually very gradual, and it is
often impossible to identify the exact time it began. During the early phase of dementia,
the person may:
Appear more apathetic, with less sparkle; slight personality changes.
Lose interest in hobbies or activities; appear more tired.
Be unwilling to try new things; this is a big sign!
Be unable to adapt to change.
Show poor judgment and making poorer decisions than expected.
Be slower to grasp complex ideas and take longer with routine jobs.
Blame others for stealing lost items.
Become more self-centered and less concerned with others and their
feelings.
Become more forgetful of details of recent events.
Be more likely to repeat themselves or lose the thread of their conversation.
Be more irritable or upset if they fail at something.
Have difficulty handling money and the decisions with it.

Imaging has a well-established place in the diagnostic work-up of a patient with possible
Alzheimer's disease (AD) but remains a late-sign in diagnostic tools. Historically the role
of imaging in a patient with cognitive impairment was limited to one of exclusion: namely
to rule out a neoplasm, hematoma, hydrocephalus or other potentially surgically
treatable causes and then just blame dementia.
Although important, these conditions account for
a tiny fraction of subjects with cognitive
complaints. Unfortunately, a differential diagnosis
in the dementias offers little hope anyways as
treatment through traditional medicine seems
dismal.
Diagnostically a large number of studies have shown that particular patterns of cerebral
atrophy on structural imaging (MRI or CT) and hypo-metabolism on functional imaging
(PET/SPECT) are associated with early Alzheimer's disease. Other functional tests may
include standard neurological examination that reveals frontal lobe dysfunction;
however, this is far from telltale for AD.
Functionally, AD is our most common dementing illness, characterized by premature
synaptic and neuronal loss along with amyloid & (A&) plaques and tau tangles in the
areas of the brain that are involved in memory consolidation, especially the limbic cortex
including the hippocampus. This is why some have referred to AD as Diabetes Type 3.
In a speech by Dr. Zetterberg, MD, PhD, from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the
University of Gothenburg entitled, Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: Where are We,
Dr. Zetterberg states, Several novel therapeutics are being tested in clinical trials, but
AD poses a number of challenges to the research community and pharmaceutical
industry. How can we be sure that the memory-impaired individuals we are studying
really have AD and how large is the influence on the symptoms of other disorders, such
as cerebrovascular disease? How can we be certain that healthy controls do not have
Inaction breeds doubt and fear.
Action breeds confidence and
courage. If you want to conquer
fear, do not sit home and think
about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie

preclinical AD?
Maybe the problem is that while medicine seeks ways to label a set of symptoms as
early as possible, we are missing the point. Why are we not putting our effort into
correcting early signs? Ill tell you why traditional medicine doesnt know how! Millions
of dollars pour in to organizations to find a cure and yet the incidence of cancer and
Alzheimer's disease continue to escalate. This debilitating neurodegenerative disorder,
estimated to affect 5 million people in the USA alone, with incidence expected to
increase fourfold over the next decade should be treated at early stages!
Heres a handy list from the Alzheimers Association: Have you noticed any of these
warning signs? Please list any concerns you have and take this sheet with you to the
doctor.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimers,
especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include
forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over;
relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members
for things they used to handle on their own. What's typical? Sometimes forgetting
names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes
in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have
trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have
difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's
typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with
Alzheimers often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have
trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the
rules of a favorite game. Whats typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings
on a microwave or to record a television show.

4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates,
seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it
is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they
got there. What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out
later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people,
having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading,
judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may
pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own
reflection. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have
trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a

conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They
may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the
wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). What's typical? Sometimes having
trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimers
disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go
back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of
stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical? Misplacing things
from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in
judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing
with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to
grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a
while.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to
remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may
have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a
favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have
experienced. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social
obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with
Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or
anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where
they are out of their comfort zone. What's typical? Developing very specific ways of
doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Rapidly Progressing Dementia

Though most dementias develop slowly, allowing an unhurried evaluation, Rapidly
Progressing Dementia (RPD) is different. A careful history alone will usually detect
dementia secondary to medication use or chronic neural degeneration and routine
laboratory assessments help to eliminate metabolic conditions that can cause dementia
including anemia, electrolyte imbalance, liver or kidney failure, thyroid disease, toxicity,
and vitamin B12 deficiency. The majority of slowly progressive dementias are
secondary to Alzheimer's disease (AD), although there is an increasing recognition of
non-AD dementias, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), subcortical ischemia
vascular disease (SIVD), Lewy body dementia (DLB), and other parkinsonian dementias
such as cortical basal degeneration (CBD).

Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), occur when prion protein,
which is found throughout the body but whose normal function isn't yet known, begins
folding into an abnormal three-dimensional shape. This shape change gradually triggers
prion protein in the brain to fold into the same abnormal shape causing a rapid decline

in brain function. The most notable prion dementia is Infectious CJD, or what is known
as mad-cow disease.

RPDs develop subacutely over weeks to months. As most dementing conditions take
years to progress to death, RPD can be quickly fatal. A helpful differential diagnostic
approach to dementia, highlighting neurodegenerative, toxic/metabolic, infectious,
autoimmune, neoplastic, and other conditions to consider is listed below. As many types
of conditions can cause all dementias as well as RPD can progress quickly, it is helpful
to have a systematic approach to diagnosis.

You want Biomarkers?
Diseases of the central nervous system are found in patients with severe
hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Levels greater than 8.0 may indicate early inflammation
and shouldnt be ignored. Epidemiological studies show a positive, dose-dependent
relationship between mild-to-moderate increases in plasma total homocysteine
concentrations (Hcy) and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's
disease, vascular dementia, cognitive impairment or stroke. HHcy is a surrogate marker
for B vitamin deficiency (folate, B12, B6) and a neurotoxic agent and should be checked
and treated by every primary physician.
Other lab tests should include those spelled out under our section on vascular/BBB
disruption, liver pathway evaluation (such as an organic acid profile), hormone testing in
the form of a 24-hour cortisol test, extended female hormone panel and male hormone
panel, heavy metal and toxicity testing, and intestinal dysbiosis testing. There are many
more that I list on our website www.UpperRoomWellness.com
An excuse for lack of early treatment in neurodegenerative diseases such as
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's is that by the time symptoms appear,
significant brain damage has already occurred-and currently there are no treatments
that can reverse it. This is absolutely false! In most cases, the first symptoms are
excused as patients justify the lesion and doctors, with no known cure, wait until
symptoms escalate to the point of granting a diagnosis. A team of SRI International
researchers has demonstrated that measurements of electrical activity in the brains of
mouse models of Huntington's disease could indicate the presence of disease before
the onset of major symptoms. The findings published as, "Longitudinal Analysis of the
Electroencephalogram and Sleep Phenotype in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's
Disease," in the July 2013 issue of the neurology journal Brain, published by Oxford
University Press.
SRI researchers led by Stephen Morairty, Ph.D., a director in the Center for
Neuroscience in SRI Biosciences, and Simon Fisher, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at
SRI, used electroencephalography (EEG), a noninvasive method commonly used in
humans, (see chapter on Neurofeedback) to measure changes in neuronal electrical
activity in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Identification of significant changes in
the EEG prior to the onset of symptoms would add to evidence that the EEG can be

used to identify biomarkers to screen for the presence of a neurodegenerative disease.
Further research on such potential biomarkers might one day enable the tracking of
disease progression in clinical trials and could facilitate drug development.
"EEG signals are composed of different frequency bands such as delta, theta and
gamma, much as light is composed of different frequencies that result in the colors we
call red, green and blue," explained Thomas Kilduff, Ph.D., senior director, Center for
Neuroscience, SRI Biosciences. "Our research identified abnormalities in all three of
these bands in Huntington's disease mice. Importantly, the activity in the theta and
gamma bands slowed as the disease progressed, indicating that we may be tracking
the underlying disease process."
There is much research justifying the use of EEG screening for early brain changes.
Until now, most investigations of EEG in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and
in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases have shown significant changes in
EEG patterns only after disease symptoms occurred. Its evidence in other neural
dysfunctions is clearly demonstrated as well.
Since the landmark UCLA study (published in the
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in
2005), other reputable institutions have replicated
their outcomes using the same protocols.
Substance abusers have been shown to have
similar dopamine receptor abnormalities. EEG
testing reveals that the outcomes are always
consistent if not better than the original UCLA
results: 77 percent of participants who receive
neurofeedback in conjunction with a 12-Step
program remain abstinent at 12 months,
compared to 44 percent of those who didnt
receive neurofeedback, but who stayed in
treatment longer.
Neurofeedback testing, called a Brain Map, can
be an early biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases as well as all neuroinflammatory
disorders. Though we would always suggest a complete neurological and metabolic
workup, such an easy scan as a Brian Map could be a lifesaver if abnormalities are
found and subsequently corrected.
Typically, following the completion of EEG evaluation, a protocol is generated
determining what sort of treatment will be most helpful for the patient. In general, Beta is
provided for clients who have either under arousal of the left or right hemispheres,
disrupting ones ability to focus and concentrate. EEG training of the beta wave at a
different frequency supports calming, relaxation and objectivity. A combination of
neurofeedback and metabolic treatments creates overall stability of brainwave activity
and is particularly helpful for individuals with long-term mental health issues, chronic
substance use disorders, early degenerative disease, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Depression,
head injuries and a history of mental illness in their family origin.
The literature, which lacks any
negative study of substance,
suggests that EEG biofeedback
therapy should play a major
therapeutic role in many difficult
areas. In my opinion, if any
medication had demonstrated such
a wide spectrum of efficacy, it
would be universally accepted and
widely used. "
- Frank Duffy, MD, Neurologist,
Head of the Neuroimaging
Department and of Neuroimaging
Research at Boston Childrens
Hospital, and Harvard Medical
School Professor

There is really no excuse for not detecting brain disorders long before justifying a
named disease; most doctors just dont know what to look for. Believe me, when I
graduated, I learned every neurological test and every pathology but I had no idea what
each test told me from a functional perspective. This is the beauty of functional
neurology and functional medicine. The negative is that it takes years and tens of
thousands of extra dollars beyond medical school loans to master this and few doctors
are willing to go back to school after decades of school.

Diagnosing Brain Conditions

The mnemonic VITAMINS is often useful for summarizing some of the major categories
of etiologies of ALL brain symptom patients not just dementia. Doctors may find this
helpful in assessing their patients and patients may help their doctors dig deeper by
following this plan:

V = Vascular

As previously discussed in the section on blood-brain barrier disruption, the vascular
system is the first thing a doctor should consider in all brain-symptom patients. A
breakdown of the vascular endothelial barrier is the first consideration in all chronic
disorders and he we shall refer to chronic as any patient with symptoms of 2-3 months
progression.

Depending on the location, strokes can present as rapidly progressive dementia and
rapid onset symptomology. Large vessel occlusions can cause microangiopathic
thromboses producing global cerebral ischemia, resulting in an encephalopathy.
Autoimmune conditions in the CNS can and most likely will cause vasculitis and can
mimic stroke/TIA acute symptoms. A vasculitis may be limited to the central nervous
system without any systemic or peripheral nervous system signs or may initially present
as a systemic disorder with accompanying fever, weight loss, rash, neuropathy, and
other organ involvement. Urinalysis may contain red cells as a sign of renal
involvement. Oxidative stress on vascular tissue may cause both chronic and acute
infiltration of inflammatory chemicals that can lead to symptoms.

There may be signs of a hemolytic anemia in a rapidly failing patient. A basic blood
screen may include, ESR, CRP, ANA, RF, with other possible functional testing but
primary CNS vasculitis patients typically have normal non-specific tests, such as ESR,
ANA and CRP. Chronic CNS symptoms involving vascular systems primarily involve
intimal lining infiltration. As in cardiac patients, cerebral patients can exhibit arterioles
that have luminal occlusions due to inflammation blistering under the intimal cell layer
that bulge into the blood flow. For the sake of our analysis, lets concentrate on that
which will most commonly be seen.

1. Assess stroke symptomology we will not enter in to this discussion in this book
but it suffices to say that in any acute case, this is the first assessment to be
made.

2. Every patient with chronic brain issues as discussed in this book, with the
possible exception of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can assume they have a
cerebral vascular breakdown. I believe that is a fair assumption given an
understanding of both endothelial and astrocyte barriers. Every clinician should
progress with treatment of the patient under that assumption and will have a
much happier patient if causes are corrected, barriers are rebuilt and pathways
are reconnected. See the section on BBB and possible supplementation for
healing.
3. Vasculitis, the inflammation of tiny vessels in the brain has long been discussed
as possible etiologies in migraines. Commonly associates with some connective
tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rheumatoid
arthritis, use of drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine and heroin, and certain
forms of cancer (particularly lymphomas, leukemia and lung cancer). More
commonly, patients are told their condition is idiopathic (which is Latin for I have
no idea). There is always a reason why.

Doctor, we must think of acute vascular inflammatory episodes in light of
understanding vascular cellular dynamics. In order for contraction and dilation to
take place (and this is what we are talking about), the intimal cells open their
doors (receptors) to chemicals that allow smooth muscle contraction. The tiny
smooth muscle layer under the intimal lining is under direct control and direction
of the intimal lining, and, more specific, the receptors.

The AT2 (angiotensin 2) receptor allows smooth muscle contraction, and the
nitric oxide (NO) receptors aide in relaxation. From a neurological perspective,
think of AT2 as under the control of the Sympathetic nervous system as it is
responsible for increasing blood pressure and flow, and the NO system as part of
the Parasympathetic nervous system tied to dilation, decreased blood flow and
pressure. Neither one is good or bad so lets understand that first; it is all
about balance!

The question we must ask is: What causes imbalance? There are only three
possible physiological causes of imbalance within this cellular system acute
inflammation, oxidative stress, and autoimmune response. The causes of these
are literally infinite and discussed ad nauseam in this book but include toxicity,
vaccinations, heavy metals, excitotoxins, foods, etc.

I = Infectious

For most of the major neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple
sclerosis, narcolepsy, schizophrenia, the cause, as far as traditional medicine is
concerned, is elusive. We may know the neurons involved, for instance that Parkinson's
is caused by a loss of substantia nigra dopamine neurons, and narcolepsy is caused by
loss of hypothalamic hypocretin neurons, but why these cells are lost remains a mystery
to most. Biotoxins must be considered! A growing understanding of the biology of the
hundred or so viruses and other biotoxins that are known to infect the brain is finally

raising the interest of researchers to the possibility of causation of a number of more
subtle neurological conditions.

Infections of the brain are less common than that of other organs because biotoxins
should not be able to penetrate the blood brain barrier. Therefore, most systemic
infections do not enter the brain. See my reasoning of step one fix the barriers!
Biotoxins that do cross damaged barriers can cause neurological problems due to a
number of mechanisms including lytic effects on brain cells (cytomegalovirus, h. pylori,
lyme), induced apoptosis (vesicular stomatitis virus, VSV), or secondary damage due to
release of glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter), release or even destruction of
other neurotransmitters, destructive attacks on neural cell bodies, DNA, and other
inducers of further brain damage.

The region in the brain that is infected plays a key role in the type of resulting
dysfunction as many biotoxin infiltrations will remain local to an area. Limbic infections
will manifest a completely different syndrome than infections of motor or sensory
systems however; there is commonly an expression of global dysfunction possibly due
to resultant inflammation and/or cytokine release by microglial cells. Infections such as
cytomegalovirus, rubella, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus cause serious
abnormalities if the developing brain is infected, and depending on the site and age of
fetal infection, can generate distinct symptoms such as deafness, blindness, epilepsy,
hydrocephalus, and/or reduced IQ in a manner directly related to what part of the brain
was infected. The age of the infected individual also plays a large role in some
infections; different biotoxins such as h. pylori, which is usually chronic, subacute (and
usually un-diagnosed) can cause neurologic dysfunction at every stage of life. West Nile
Virus and Chronic Lyme (CLD), are more likely to cause neurological problems in the
that can be progressive and destructive. MS is due to an autoimmune attack on
oligodendrocytes, but what is the antigen that sparks the attack? it might be initiated by
a transient viral infection of those cells. While no single biotoxin has consistently been
associated with MS, viruses such as measles and/or other biotoxin that sometimes
infect oligodendrocytes have been associated with the disease.

Viral infections can also generate neurological problems years or decades after the
initial infection, even after the infection is long dead. Chicken pox, a herpes virus, can
remain latent in neurons for decades, to return years later as shingles when the live
virus is regenerated from its latent genome crazy stuff! The frequency of the organism
is imprinted on the patients DNA. The herpes simplex genome can also remain latent in
peripheral neurons (particularly in the ganglions) for long periods before the active,
replication-competent virus is regenerated, and travels down the axon to once again
infect the periphery (example cold sores). Some viruses leave a latent imprint on the
brain that causes neurological dysfunction decades after the virus has been eliminated
from the brain by the immune system. Postpolio syndrome is one example. Humans
that have had symptoms of poliomyelitis and recovered can again show symptoms,
such as weakness of affected limbs, 3040 years later.

It gets worse: these same biotoxins and substances of vaccinations that were exposed
to the patient years or decades ago, not only can resurface causing neurological

symptoms with microglial immune responses but can cause cellular disruptions in
apoptotic and replication cycles which we call cancer!

Bottom line ignore these at your own risk!

How does one assess for these?

1. CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) testing would be typically recommended by traditional
medicine but would routinely reveal false negative for obvious reasons: there is
no infectious organism in the CSF. CSF inspection solely checks CSF.
2. MRI/CT evaluations will reveal late-stage infectious outcomes such as cyst or
abscess formation common to trichinosis, as well as acute infectious processes
exhibiting inflammation such as encephalitis.
3. Blood testing can show abnormalities in white counts but this is not indicative of
cerebral infections. Blood testing for antibodies to brain tissue may be affective,
as in testing for cerebellar antibodies but again, it will reveal an autoimmune
disorder but not the antigen in question, which may be a number of different
things other that an infectious organism.
4. Kinesiology testing, though controversial and demands a practitioner with years
of experience is still the most accurate at detecting specific infectious causes
particularly the chronic, subclinical causes of insidious inflammation. Finding a
practitioner is the greatest challenge. We have had numerous seminars training
doctors from around the world and hold clinical rounds for practitioners wanting
to learn more. If you are a licensed practitioner, contact our office or visit our
website and register for an upcoming seminar or our practitioner pages giving
more information on functional diagnoses.

Doctors, cognitive dysfunction is a common neurological syndrome of infectious
causation although usually a late complication. Syphilis, for example, can present with
rapid progression, particularly in immune-compromised patients. Lyme disease is a
systemic infection with the spirochette, Borrelia burgdorferi and numerous co-infections,
which is usually transmitted to people from a tick bite. Neurological manifestations are
common in Lyme disease, including cranial nerve palsy, meningitis, polyradiculopathy,
depression, psychosis, and dementia. It is important to differentiate acute versus
chronic Lyme as acute should immediately be treated with an antibiotic, typically
doxycycline. Although rapidly progressive dementia caused by Lyme disease has been
reported, it is chronic Lyme (CLD) that usually causes slow yet progressive neurological
symptoms. CLD no longer responds to antibiotic therapy as it literaly morphs its
frequency (not unlike antibiotic resistant bacteria) into a viral-like pathogen that can hide
intracellularly in both the CNS and systemic cells.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic CNS infection from the virus
that causes measles and is still occurs in individuals from countries where measles
infections are common. It typically occurs in children, but can occur in adults. Worse,
people having been vaccinated for measles (MMR) may carry the DNA encode and
exhibit CNS symptoms accordingly. Patients can develop the same progressive
dementia, seizures (focal and/or generalized), myoclonus, ataxia, rigidity, and visual

disturbances. All these symptoms can vary in degree and pattern to confuse both
patient and doctor as to etiology leaving most patients misdiagnosed and mistreated!

Finally, infectious organisms are common antigens in autoimmune (AI) reactions
everywhere in the body, including the CNS. If the Ai disorder leaves one in a Th1
dominant state (see my book on AI disease, Help, My Body is Killing Me!), it makes it
extremely challenging to treat as most recommended pathogen killers are Th1
stimulators. There is much to learn, I know, but a greater understanding yields a better
success rate with the most challenging cases, and these are the ones I love!

T = Toxic-metabolic conditions
Metabolic causes of brain pathway disruption include everything from vitamin
deficiencies, endocrinologic disturbances (which well discuss separately) and
everything that weve discussed earlier in this book. Vitamin deficiencies (usually from
taking synthetic compounds) can result in significant neurologic deficits, including
cognitive impairment.

Pellagra (rough skin) is due to niacin deficiency and is classically described as the
three Ds - dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. Niacinamide, or nicotinamide, is what we
find in food and commonly call niacin. Niacin can have side effects, but these are
minimal when coming from plant food sources. Synthetic Vitamin B3 Nicotinic acid is
created using coal tar, ammonia, acids, 3-cyanopyridine, and formaldehyde. It is less
absorbable and has risks of side effects, which ironically include niacin deficiency
syndromes. Niacin deficient causes abnormalities of the skin and gastrointestinal tract,
as well as peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy and cognitive dysfunction. With a careful
history, the dementia of pellagra is typically found to be insidious, not rapid. Niacin
deficiency should be considered in patients with nutritional deficiency, such as
alcoholics and patients with anorexia nervosa, as well as in those taking isoniazid (used
to treat tuberculosis). Finding nicotinic acid metabolites in the urine make the diagnosis
easy but, this is just another reason to use a whole-food B-complex on every most
patient.

Deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B1), a necessary cofactor in oxidative metabolism, can
cause Wernicke's Encephalopathy, which classically presents as a triad of
ophthalmoparesis (with vertical and/or horizontal nystagmus), ataxia and memory loss.
The thalamic involvement on MRI can appear similar to that seen in CJD and cause the
patient similar symptoms, which are quite severe. Thiamin is a water soluble vitamin
created by plants and bound to phosphate. Digestion releases the thiamin using
specialized enzymes. Synthetic Vitamin B1, Thiamine mononitrate, or thiamine
hydrochloride, is again made from coal tar, ammonia, acetone, and hydrochloric acid. It
is crystalline in structure (like many synthetic vitamins), unlike plant-based vitamins.
Crystals in our blood stream cause damage and mineral accumulation where it isnt
needed, like joints. All patients with brain symptoms should be screened for Vitamin B12
deficiency.

Numerous toxins can cause brain issues. Exposure to heavy metals, such as arsenic,
mercury, aluminum, lithium, and lead can lead to cognitive decline, particularly following

acute exposure. Even minerals, again usually consumed in wrong forms through
supplements can cause toxicity. Iodine and iron would be prime example of this. Ive
had too many patients to count that have presented taking large doses of elemental iron
(usually ferrous sulfate) and iodine, thinking they are helping their anemia or thyroid
respectively. Even calcium, commonly seen in supplements as calcium carbonate are
incorrect forms of nutrients. It is literally like eating dirt! Remember, plants take nutrients
in dirt and convert them to the appropriate form for us. We then eat the plant, not the
soil!

Manganese toxicity, found usually in miners, can present with significant Parkinsonism.
Bismuth is a metal used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (Pepto Bismol), principally
peptic ulcer disease and diarrhea. Bismuth intoxication, typically caused by overdosing
(and usually prolonged exposure meaning frequent use) on bismuth containing
products can cause a disorder mimicking CJD (mad-cow disease). Patients initially
manifest with apathy, mild ataxia, headaches, which progresses to myoclonus,
dysarthria, severe confusion, hallucinations (auditory and visual), seizures, and, in
severe cases, even death.

Weve already discussed excitotoxins, possibly the most common brain toxin as they
readily cross even healthy blood-brain barriers. Pesticides, herbicides, and household
cleaners, even chemical in shampoo and soap can all lead to toxic encephalopathy. The
wide variety of slow-onset symptoms, which can include memory loss, personality
changes/increased irritability, insidious onset of concentration difficulties, involuntary
movements, fatigue, seizures, arm strength problems, and depression, usually lead
people to never suspect a toxic source. Neurobehavioral effects of occupational
exposure to organic solvents among those working with chemicals are common. The
condition may also be referred to as substance-induced persistent dementia due to the
cognitive decline commonly seen. Acute intoxication symptoms include
lightheadedness, dizziness, headache and nausea, and regular cumulative exposure to
these toxic solvents over a number of years puts the individual at high risk for
developing brain disorders that usually receive a different named diagnosis.

Common toxins, used daily, can cause cancer. A recent study of pediatric brain tumors
in Los Angeles County, California involving mothers of 224 cases, investigated the risk
of household pesticide use from pregnancy to diagnosis. Risk was significantly
elevated for prenatal exposure to flea/tick pesticide particularly among subjects less
than 5 years old at diagnosis suggesting exposure to chemicals at younger ages cause
greater harm. Frontline, and other similar brands of flea/tick applications boast season-
long prevention to your dog or cat with a simple liquid applied to their back. Just think of
the toxic exposure not just to your pet that will die in several years given a shorter life
expectancy and the cause of death will probably be blamed on old age and not cancer,
but the exposure to everyone in contact with your pet. The damage to the brain of your
pet, your children and yourself from these poisons is simply unnecessary. Most people
could deal with their dog being a little loopy but we just cannot ignore the dangers to
humans.

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that therell be a difference in toxic load of
10-pound child compared to a 200-pound man when it comes to household chemical

exposures. Vaccinations are another concern with toxins especially if the child has
damaged/lagging liver detoxification pathways and a compromised blood-brain barrier.
But still we think injecting egg or chicken protein, viruses, Neomycin, Polymyxin,
Gentamycin antibiotics, Thimerosal, Betapropiolactone, Nonoxynol, Octoxinol,
Formaldehyde, Polysorbate 80, and Triton X-100 is GOOD for a 6-pound infant?

Research points to the toxic effects of not only active but also inactive ingredients found
in everyones cupboard hazards that can affect the central nervous system,
reproductive systems and other vital bodily systems. Consumers often dont have the
time or know where to go to find important information about the products they use, but
they must become educated. To make matters worse, the information is often presented
in highly scientific language that may be difficult to interpret or hidden (legally I might
add) behind inclusive phrases like other natural and artificial flavorings. But there are a
growing number of consumer-friendly resources that can help us sort through all of this
information and understand what we need to know to make the best possible choices
for our families with regard to household cleaners, disinfectants and polishes.

For starters, the three essential categories into which most of the hazardous ingredients
in household cleaning products fall are:

1. Carcinogens Carcinogens cause cancer and/or promote cancers growth.
2. Endocrine disruptors Endocrine disruptors mimic human hormones, confusing
the body with false signals. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can lead to numerous
health concerns including reproductive, developmental, growth and behavior
problems. Endocrine disruptors have been linked to reduced fertility, premature puberty,
miscarriage, menstrual problems, challenged immune systems, abnormal prostate size,
ADHD, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and certain cancers.
3. Neurotoxins Neurotoxins alter neurons, affecting brain activity, causing a
range of problems from headaches to loss of intellect. Excitotoxins fit into this category.

Reading labels

People may find it time-consuming to research all of the ingredients in the cleaning
products under the kitchen sink and foods that they buy. In general however, product
warning labels can be a useful first line of defense. Cleaning products are required by
law to include label warnings if harmful ingredients are included. From safest to most
dangerous, the warning signals are:

Signal Word Toxicity if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin*
Caution One ounce to a pint may be harmful or fatal
Warning One teaspoon to one ounce may be harmful or fatal
Danger One taste to one teaspoon is fatal
*For a 180-pound male

Even products with a cautionary label, it should be pointed out, may present health risks
if used improperly or with repeated exposures over time. Good ventilation and skin
barriers are very important when using any over-the-counter cleaning product.


We are exposed to countless chemical ingredients in daily life that may be harmful to
our health too numerous to outline here and beyond the scope of this article.
Consumers should know of some general categories of chemicals that should be
avoided, however. The following list is not all-inclusive.

Pesticides. One of the most counter-intuitive health threats is that of products that
disinfect. Common sense tells us that killing household germs protects our
health. However disinfectants are pesticides, and the ingredients in pesticides often
include carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Pesticides are fat-soluble, making them
difficult to eliminate from the body once ingested. Pesticides, including disinfectants,
may also include alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs).

APEs. APEs act as surfactants, meaning they lower the surface tension of liquids and
help cleaning solutions spread more easily over the surface to be cleaned and
penetrate solids. APEs are found in detergents, disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners and
laundry cleansers. They are also found in many self-care items including spermicides,
sanitary towels and disposable diapers. APEs are endocrine disruptors.

Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is commonly known as a preservative. Many people do
not know that it is also a germicide, bactericide and fungicide, among other
functions. Formaldehyde is found in household cleaners and disinfectants. It is also
present in nail polish and other personal care products. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.

Organochlorines. Organochlorines result from the combination of hydrogen and
carbon. Some types are highly deadly, such as DDT. OCs are bioaccumulative and also
highly persistent in the environment. OCs are present in pesticides, detergents, de-
greasers and bleaches. OCs are also present in drycleaning fluids. OCs are
carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.

Styrene. Styrene is a naturally occurring substance derived from the styrax
tree. Styrene is most commonly used in the manufacture of numerous plastics including
plastic food wrap, insulated cups, carpet backing and PVC piping. Styrene is also found
in floor waxes and polishes and metal cleaners. Styrene is a known carcinogen as well
as an endocrine disruptor. Exposure may affect the central nervous system, liver and
reproductive system.

Phthalates. Phthalates are most commonly used in the manufacture of
plastics. Phthalates are also used as carriers for perfumes and air fresheners and as
skin penetration enhancers for products such as moisturizers. These chemicals are
classified as inert and as such no product-labeling requirements exist for
phthalates. They are endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens. Phthalates are
known to cause hormonal abnormalities, thyroid disorders, birth defects and
reproductive problems.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted as gases suspending
themselves in the air. VOCs include an array of chemicals, some of which may have
short- and long-term adverse health effects, and are present in perfumes, air
fresheners, disinfectants and deodorizers. VOCs commonly include propane, butane,

ethanol, phthalates and/or formaldehyde. These compounds pose a variety of human
health hazards and collectively are thought to be reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, liver
toxins and carcinogens.
Diagnosing toxic exposure is difficult without utilizing a technique such as Kinesiology.
Blood testing can reveal acute exposure but once the toxin penetrates the blood-brain
barrier, it typically is no longer circulating in the blood. Tissue samples will reveal toxicity
but again, this isnt very practical and I have yet to find a volunteer to give me a brain
sample.

Getting rid of toxic substances typically requires chelation therapy. A chelator is simply
a known nutraceutical that binds to inorganic substances to carry them out of the body.
EDTA is the most widely known chelator. EDTA was first synthesized in the late 1930s
in Germany and its first documented clinical use in lead poisoning was first reported in
1952, when Michigan battery factory workers were discovered to be suffering from lead
poisoning. They were treated with EDTA and coincidentally those patients who had
coronary artery disease and angina had also a lessening of those symptoms following
treatment. This prompted the first studies to discover other therapeutic effects of EDTA.
The first study of EDTA in occlusive vascular disease (clogged arteries) was stopped
due to lack of immediate results. However, it was resumed after patients reported
subsequent improvements in symptoms. It was found that maximum benefits occurred
approximately three months following a course of treatment. More than 500,000 people
have been treated with chelation therapy in the United States alone, without a single
reported incident of renal failure or death since 1960 and yet cardiovascular disease is
still the most common cause of death in the US. So, why isnt it used more? Maybe its
because the pharmaceutical companies cant own the patent.

Here we are discussing chelations approach to toxins. There are many substances that
act as chelators of toxins in the body. Though I test patients for the specific product and
dosage that is best for them, Ill list my favorites, in no particular order here:

1. Gama Detox - Premiere Research Labs
2. IP6 I use Hope Science
3. DMSA several sources
4. EDTA suppositories several sources
5. Modified Citrus Pectin
6. Cilantro
7. Chlorella

Reputable labs produce most of the above products and have other beneficial
components added to enhance detoxification. I highly suggest that you do NOT attempt
chelation without professional help and NEVER do any detoxification without supporting
liver detox pathways!

A = Assess Hormone Function
We cannot discuss the brain without addressing hormonal balance as hormones affect
the balance of serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine, the brain
neurotransmitters responsible for stabilizing our moods, and connecting nerve

pathways. Estrogen fluctuations (in both sexes), can cause brain serotonin to drop to
low levels, which severely impacts function. Without adequate levels of serotonin in your
brain, you may experience agitation, irritability, anxiety, depression, and loss of
inhibition of angry and impulse. Its a vicious cycle in women because low serotonin
levels inhibit the ability of a woman's ovaries to produce adequate amounts of estrogen.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may cause damage to the hypothalamus and/or pituitary
gland, which are the brains generators responsible for regulating the body's hormones.
The effects of pituitary and hypothalamus injury are many and varied because of the
huge amount of hormones which can be affected as these are the master stimulators of
all the glands. Some symptoms are similar to the more common effects of brain injury
and that is another reason why the problem may be underdiagnosed.

Examples of overlapping symptoms are:

Depression
Sexual difficulties, such as impotence and altered sex drive
Mood swings
Fatigue
Headaches
Vision disturbance
Other symptoms include:

Muscle weakness
Reduced body hair
Irregular periods/loss of normal menstrual function
Reduced fertility
Weight gain
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Dry skin
Pale appearance
Low blood pressure/dizziness
Diabetes insipidus

It is an error to think of hormone balance simply in terms of female cycles and
menopause. Both sexes, at any age, experience ill effects of poor hormonal control.
Located just behind and between the eyes, deep in the brain is the hypothalamus. It is
bordered laterally by the optic tracts and temporal lobes and sits directly below the
thalamus. It contains a series of differentiated nuclei that connect it with the rest of the
brain and with the endocrine system.

The periventricular axon system in the hypothalamus contains axons that connect the
hypothalamus with the brainstem and thalamus. Some periventricular axons
communicate to the anterior pituitary and secrete releasing hormones where they
control secretion of prolactin, thyrotropin, corticotropin, growth hormone, gonadotropic
hormones, and prolactin. Other periventricular axons, from cells in the supraoptic and
paraventricular nuclei that produce oxytocin or vasopressin, pass directly through the

pituitary stalk to the posterior pituitary gland, where their terminals secrete these
hormones into the general circulation.

The lateral hypothalamic axon system runs to the lateral hypothalamic area, serving to
connect the more medial nuclei with the forebrain above, and with the brainstem below.
The medial nuclei of the hypothalamus regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, body
temperature, and sexual hormones. The brains biological clock, the suprachiasmatic
nucleus, is also at this level, sitting just above the optic chiasm, as do neurons that are
critical for secreting melatonin and causing sleep. The middle third of the hypothalamus
contains the nuclei that regulate feeding, hunger, energy metabolism, stress responses,
and coordinate wake-sleep cycles.

Since the hypothalamus sits at a crossroads in the brain, receiving direct sensory inputs
from the smell, taste, visual, and somatosensory systems, it may be considered the
inter-communicator between the brain and the endocrine system. It also receives
sensations for such things as blood temperature, blood sugar, mineral levels, and
feedback loops for a variety of hormones. Thus
the hypothalamus receives sensory inputs
necessary to detect challenges in both the
internal and external environments and enables
one to adapt to life.

The hypothalamus receives inputs from frontal
lobe areas, especially the hippocampus,
amygdala, and cingulate cortex. Remember,
these structures form the limbic lobe that drive a wide range of emotional responses
associated with emotional expression (changes in heart rate, blushing/flushing, hair
standing on end, etc.) are mediated by the hypothalamus.

In summary, the importance of the hypothalamus is threefold. First, it regulates the
internal milieu of electrolyte concentrations and osmolality, glucose and other fuels, and
body temperature, maintaining homeostasis. Secondly, it helps the body deal with large
and unpredictable alarms of outside dangers that require a change in behavior and
physiology. The responses can include resetting various setpoints (e.g., increase in
body temperature and blood pressure), as well as endocrine adjustments (such as
cortisol and adrenaline release when under threat). Lastly, the hypothalamus helps
anticipate daily events that are triggered by the external day-night cycle. We all have
predictable times for feeding, drinking, sleeping, and sexual behavior. All of these are
regulated by the circadian timing system in the brain that both the hypothalamus and
hippocampus largely control.

From a neurological perspective, firing into the cerebellum will greatly affect the
hypothalamus and hence, all hormone function. And remember, the cerebellum is the
most vascular of brain structures and therefore, most susceptible to autoimmune and
inflammation. Treatment hint: brain-based therapy aimed at cerebellum and frontal lobe
function can go a long way in balancing hormones!

Like sand on a beach, the brain
bears the footprints of the decisions
we have made, the skills we have
learned, the actions we have taken.
-Sharon Begley, Train Your Mind,
Change Your Brain

A holistic understanding of hormone balance cannot leave the gut out in the cold.
Recent research has found, for example, that tweaking the balance between beneficial
and disease-causing bacteria in our gut dramatically alters our brain chemistry. It goes
both ways as the brain can also exert a powerful influence on gut bacteria; as many
studies have shown, even mild stress can tip the microbial balance in the gut, making
the host more vulnerable to infectious disease and triggering a cascade of molecular
reactions that feed back to the central nervous system.

Symbiotic gut bacteria also produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to
regulate both basic physiological processes and mental processes such as learning,
memory and mood. For example, gut bacteria manufacture about 90 percent of the
body's supply of serotonin, which influences both mood and GI activity.

M = Malignancies
Several primary and secondary malignancies can cause an acute or subacute cognitive
disorder. Three malignancies that often present as dementias, and present with varied
abnormalities on MRI, are primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), intravascular lymphoma,
and lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Any of the primary brain tumors can present with
CNS symptoms with a sudden onset of headaches, dizziness, seizures, change in
speech, vision or hearing, nausea or vomiting, sudden loss of memory, etc.

This book is not meant for an in-depth discussion on cancer, but functional medicine
and functional neurology is fully capable to deal with the effects of space occupying
lesions in the brain. A proper functional exam will reveal areas needing support and
brain-based therapy as well as neurofeedback can greatly improve the patients
outcomes.

I = Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is classified below as to severity. Unlike more severe TBIs,
the disturbance of brain function from mild TBI (MTBI) is related more to dysfunction of
brain metabolism (what the trauma does to the brain chemistry) rather than to structural
injury or damage. These are what will be seen by most physicians and should be
understood by parents alike as these MTBIs are the repetitive microtraumas that bring
symptoms of early cognitive decline years or decades later. The current understanding
of the underlying pathology of MTBI involves a paradigm shift away from a focus on
anatomic damage to an emphasis on neuronal dysfunction involving a complex cascade
of ionic, metabolic and physiologic events. Clinical signs and symptoms of MTBI such
as poor memory, speed of processing, fatigue, and dizziness result from
this underlying neurometabolic cascade. (See CDC website)

Though there are several bedside tests that can be done at the scene of injury, at home
after an event, or in a doctors office, the Glasgow Coma Scale below is a simple way to
classify an injury. It is based on a 15 point scale for estimating and categorizing the
outcomes of brain injury on the basis of overall social capability or dependence on

others. The test measures the motor response, verbal response and eye opening
response with these values:

I. Motor Response
6 Obeys commands fully
5 Localizes to noxious stimuli
4 Withdraws from noxious stimuli
3 Abnormal flexion, i.e. decorticate posturing
2 Extensor response, i.e. decerebrate posturing
1 No response

II. Verbal Response
5 Alert and Oriented
4 Confused, yet coherent, speech
3 Inappropriate words and jumbled phrases consisting of words
2 Incomprehensible sounds
1 No sounds

III. Eye Opening
4 Spontaneous eye opening
3 Eyes open to speech
2 Eyes open to pain
1 No eye opening
The final score is determined by adding the values of I+II+III.
This number helps medical practitioners categorize the four possible levels for survival,
with a lower number indicating a more severe injury and a poorer prognosis:

Mild (13-15):
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be classified as mild if loss of consciousness and/or
confusion and disorientation is shorter than 30 minutes. While MRI and CAT scans are
often normal, the individual has cognitive problems such as headache, difficulty
thinking, memory problems, attention deficits, mood swings and frustration. These
injuries are commonly overlooked. Even though this type of TBI is called mild, the
effect on the family and the injured person can be devastating.

Other Names For Mild TBI
! Concussion
! Minor head trauma
! Minor TBI
! Minor brain injury
! Minor head injury

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is:
! Most prevalent TBI
! Often missed at time of initial injury
! 15% of people with mild TBI have symptoms that last one year or more.

! Defined as the result of the forceful motion of the head or impact causing a brief
change in mental status (confusion, disorientation or loss of memory) or loss of
consciousness for less than 30 minutes.
! Post injury symptoms are often referred to as post concussive syndrome.

Common Symptoms of Mild TBI
! Fatigue
! Headaches
! Visual disturbances
! Memory loss
! Poor attention/concentration
! Sleep disturbances
! Dizziness/loss of balance
! Irritability-emotional disturbances
! Feelings of depression
! Seizures

Other Symptoms Associated with Mild TBI
! Nausea
! Loss of smell
! Sensitivity to light and sounds
! Mood changes
! Getting lost or confused
! Slowness in thinking

These symptoms may not be present or noticed at the time of injury. They may be
delayed days, weeks, months or even years before they appear. The symptoms are
often subtle and are often missed by the injured person, family and doctors because
they look normal and often have little dysfunction in spite of not feeling or thinking
normal. This makes the diagnosis easy to miss. Family and friends often notice
changes in behavior before the injured person realizes there is a problem. Often the
frustration at work or when performing household tasks may bring the person to seek
medical care.

Moderate Disability (9-12):
! Loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
! Physical or cognitive impairments which may or may resolve
! Benefit from Rehabilitation

Severe Disability (3-8):
! Coma: unconscious state. No meaningful response, no voluntary activities

Vegetative State (Less Than 3):
! Sleep wake cycles
! Aruosal, but no interaction with environment
! No localized response to pain

Persistent Vegetative State:

! Vegetative state lasting longer than one month

The Centers for Disease Control published a handy pocket card for patients that have
experienced TBIs:

What to Expect Once Youre Home from the Hospital

Most people with a concussion recover quickly and fully. During recovery, you may have
a range of symptoms that appear right away, while others may not be noticed for hours
or even days after the injury. You may not realize you have problems until you try to do
your usual activities again. Most symptoms go away over time without any treatment.
Below is a list of some of the symptoms you may have:

Thinking/Remembering
Difficulty thinking clearly
Feeling slowed down
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty remembering new information

Physical
Headache
Balance problems
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Lack of energy
Sensitivity to noise or light

Emotional/Mood
Irritability
Nervousness
Sadness
More emotional

Sleep
Sleeping more than usual
Sleeping less than usual
Trouble falling asleep

How to Feel Better
Get plenty of rest and sleep.
Avoid activities that are physically demanding or require a lot of thinking.
Do not drink alcohol.
Return slowly and gradually to your routine.
Ask a doctor when it is safe to drive, ride a bike, or operate heavy equipment.

WHEN TO RETURN TO THE HOSPITAL

Sometimes serious problems develop after a head injury. Return to the emergency
department right away if you have any of these symptoms:
Repeated vomiting
Worsening or severe headache
Unable to stay awake during times you would normally be awake
More confused and restless
Seizures
Difficulty walking or difficulty with balance
Difficulty with your vision
Any symptom that concerns you, your family members, or friends

N = Neurological assessing the patients pathways
Learning how to do a proper neurological examination is necessary for any physician.
Learning how to interpret such an exam is for the big boys. Sorry, I mean no offence to
my colleagues that do not understand functional neurology but, no second thought, yes
I do. Having taken hundreds of hours of Carrick seminars (www.carrickinstitute.com)
and completed American Functional Neurology Institute with Dr. Andy Barlow, I highly
recommend doctors study functional neurology prior to taking patients described in this
book. It is like going back to medical school; unfortunately for patients, most doctors
know nothing about that which we speak because of the former statement.

We have already covered enough neurology in this book to turn most non-doctors off so
well go no deeper here except to state again that a medical neurologist will know
nothing about functional neurology. Understanding HOW to do neurological tests and
understanding what they MEAN is similar to the difference between being able to read
Greek and being able to fully converse with an Athenian.

S = Systemic
Inflammation elsewhere in the body sharply affects the blood-brain barrier. One study
showed that injecting rats with inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta),
interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
directly affected the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The cerebral regional
blood volumes appeared significantly lower in the rats injected with IL-6 (a Th2 cytokine)
than in the control animals, but markedly increased following TNF-alpha (a Th1
cytokine) administration. This suggests that patients with systemic Th1 dominant
autoimmune disorders may both damage the BBB and vasodilate cerebral microvessel
endothelium and those with Th2 dominant disorders both damage BBB and
vasoconstrict the cerebral microvessel endothelium.

Following episodes of immune, Th1 responses, proinflammatory cytokine levels in liver
and serum typically return to basal levels within a day, whereas brain proinflammatory
cytokines remain elevated for long periods. IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine is
reduced in brain by ethanol and LPS, while brain proinflammatory cytokines remain
increased, whereas liver IL-10 is increased when proinflammatory cytokines have
returned to control levels. Activation of brain microglia indicated by morphological
changes, reduced neurogenesis and increased brain expression of COX-2 pathways.
Alcohol consumption is a perfect example of an induced Th1 response inducer.

Peripheral cytokines both damage and penetrate the blood-brain barrier. There is
abundant evidence that inflammatory mechanisms within the central nervous system
contribute to cognitive impairment via cytokine-mediated interactions between neurons
and glial cells. Peripheral immune cells also activate microglial immune responses.
Cytokines mediate cellular mechanisms of cognition (e.g., cholinergic and dopaminergic
pathways) and can modulate neuronal and glial cell function to facilitate neuronal
regeneration or neurodegeneration.

A general dysregulation in immunological functioning is considered a hallmark of the
aging process though NOT normal. Increasing age has been associated with changes
in serum balances of various cytokines. Apparently, IL-6 levels seem to increase with
advancing age in various healthy populations. Since IL-6 also causes osteoclastic
activity, it is no wonder osteoporosis is common. Remember, what is common should
never be considered normal. This is just another reason for the astute clinician to
regulate their patients immune system and why all osteoporotic patients should be
evaluated for elevated IL-6 levels!

As such, it appears that increases in IL-6 represent a common outcome in aging in
general and should be evaluated. The age-associated rise in IL-6 may also play a role
in thymic atrophy and the suppression of thymopoiesis during aging. In addition, age-
related increases in TNF-alpha and TNF receptors have been demonstrated in blood.
The cause of this age-related cytokine dysregulation is unclear and could include
normal homeostatic responses and other disease processes. My opinion is that many
people have undiagnosed, subclinical Th2 dominant autoimmune disorders that lead to
the high incidence of Th2 related diseases as we age; Cancer and Cardiovascular
Disease are predominately Th2 dominant disorders!

One possible mechanism of this Th2 dominance in aging is suggested by findings that
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) inhibits IL-6 secretion. Thus, an age-related increase
in IL-6 could also be due to a loss of tonic inhibition by DHEA as levels of this adrenal
hormone decrease those of advancing age that exhibit adrenal fatigue, common in
elderly.
Weve discussed toxins at length but cant forget elevated glucose levels affecting brain
and BB function as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes is considered a risk
factor for vascular dementia as it can damage blood vessels in the brain. This form of
dementia is often caused by reduced or blocked blood flow to the brain. But researchers
from Germany now say that even those without diabetes who have high blood sugar
levels may be at risk for impaired memory skills.

In the word recall test, the researchers found that remembering fewer words was linked
to higher blood sugar levels. They break this down, stating that an increase of 7
mmol/mol of a glucose marker called HbA1c correlated with recalling two fewer words.
Explaining their findings, Agnes Flel, of the Charit University Medicine in Berlin and
study author, told Medical News Today: "Clinically, even if your blood sugar levels are
'normal,' lower blood sugar levels are better for your brain in the long run with regard to
memory functions as well as memory-relevant brain structures like the hippocampus.

Scientifically, we were able to shed further light on the mechanisms mediating these
effects. DTI-based (diffusion tensor imaging) measurements demonstrated that not only
volume of the hippocampus, but also microstructural integrity is lower if blood sugar
levels are higher."

Other Considerations
Functional and dissociative neurological symptoms have been given many different
names over the years. Many people have been given labels have been considered
'psychiatric patients', which is based on the idea that the symptoms are 'all in the mind'.
Psychological factors are often important to look at in relation to functional and
dissociative neurological symptoms but the symptoms are not 'made up'. Most experts
believe that these symptoms exist at the interface between the brain and mind, between
neurology and psychiatry, which is why it is difficult when people ask "is it neurological
or psychological?" In truth, it is always both, as
there is no separation between hard pathways of
function and emotional pathways of thoughts and
feelings.

The follow list of labels does not make easy
reading , but, upsetting as it may be to see some of these terms, it may help you to
know about them.

Conversion Disorder - is a term made popular by Sigmund Freud and used in a
standard US classification system of psychiatric disorders (DSM-IV). It refers to an idea
that patients are 'converting' their mental distress in to physical symptoms. Conversion
disorder refers to symptoms of weakness, movement disorder, sensory symptoms and
non-epileptic attacks but has been expanded to mean any neurologic disorder that
traditional medicine is unable to explain. The principle of "conversion" is something that
may apply to a small minority of patients but there is little experimental evidence for the
idea in the majority of patients.

Non-Organic - is a term doctors use for symptoms which are not due to identifiable
disease or definable cause (at least to the extent of their knowledge). It implies the
problem is purely psychological.

Psychogenic - is a term quite frequently used to describe these symptoms, especially
dissociative seizures and movement disorders. Again it implies that the problem is
purely psychological.

Psychosomatic - has come to mean the same as psychogenic although its original
meaning was to describe the way in which the body affected the mind as well as
psychological processes affecting the body

Somatization - suggests that the person has physical symptoms because of mental
distress. The arguments here are the same as those for 'conversion disorder'.
Somatization Disorder describes a situation where someone has a lifelong pattern of
physical symptoms which are not due to disease.

Half of what medical schools teach
is wrong; the hard part is figuring
out which half.

While the emotional component to every illness must be investigated, we believe that,
especially in long-standing conditions, several questions must be answered:

1. What will I have to give up in order to get better? By this we must investigate things
that we are currently holding (like addictions to substances and foods) as well as
emotional ties that bind us (like freedom from responsibilities).
2. What areas in my life require change? I have encountered numerous patients that
may even cry in my treatment room over the anguish of their current state yet they
refuse to make lifestyle changes to save their life.
3. What responsibilities am I trying to avoid? In every case, even cancer cases, tough
questions like this need to be addressed.
4. Are there any benefits to this disease? Are there any secondary gains to continued
sickness? Do I get the attention that Ive longed for my entire life? Is this disease
bringing me the pity, the devotion, the response from others that I missed from an
absent parent?

Personal reflection is essential and honesty is crucial. No one should be ashamed if
there are emotional components to their illness; its normal. Facing these patterns head-
on is the only way to overcome any disease and finding a safe place and friend to
confide in is important.

Conclusion
This section was mainly for the clinician but can help direct the patient to proper care.
The bottom line is that patients with brain-based problems should have a complete
evaluation that aims at finding the cause. Arriving at a diagnosis is worthless. To give a
collection of symptoms a Latin name does little to help the patient.


!"#$%&# (&")*+,--.+/")
Crade each quesLlon on a scale of 1-3, (3 belng Lhe mosL Lroublesome, 1 belng less of a problem)
0+12* 3,/*+4.# 5"#.675"%+4+"-468
Clumslness and an odd posLure.
oor coordlnaLlon
noL aLhleLlcally lncllned and has no lnLeresL ln popular chlldhood parLlclpaLlon sporLs
Low muscle Lone - muscles seem klnd of floppy
oor gross moLor skllls, such as dlfflculLy learnlng Lo rlde a blke, and/or runs and or/ walks oddly
8epeLlLlve/sLereoLyped moLor mannerlsms (splns ln clrcles, flaps arms)
lldgeLs excesslvely
oor eye conLacL
Walks or walked on Loes when younger
oor spaLlal orlenLaLlon - bumps lnLo Lhlngs ofLen
SenslLlvlLy Lo sound
Confuslon when asked Lo polnL Lo dlfferenL body parLs
oor sense of balance
Plgh Lhreshold of paln
Llkes Lo spln, go on rldes, swlng, moLlon
1ouches Lhlngs compulslvely
A female lnLeresLed ln makeup and [ewelry
uoes noL llke Lhe feel of cloLhlng on arms or legs
uoesn'L llke belng Louched or Lo Louch Lhlngs
refers bland food
uoes noL noLlce sLrong smells such as burnlng wood, popcorn, cookles baklng
Avolds foods because of Lhe way lL looks
uoesn'L en[oy eaLlng and noL even lnLeresLed ln sweeLs
LxLremely plcky eaLer
SponLaneously crles and/or laughs and has sudden ouLbursLs of anger or fear
Worrles a loL and has several phoblas
Polds on Lo pasL hurLs"
Pas sudden emoLlonal ouLbursLs LhaL appear over reacLlve and lnapproprlaLe Lo Lhe slLuaLlon
Lxperlences panlc and/or anxleLy aLLacks
SomeLlmes dlsplays dark or vlolenL LhoughLs
lace lacks expresslon, doesn'L exhlblL much body language
1oo upLlghL, cannoL seem Lo loosen up
Lacks empaLhy and feellngs for oLhers
Lacks emoLlonal reclproclLy
CfLen seems fearless and ls a rlsk Laker
Loglcal Lhlnker
CfLen mlsses Lhe glsL of a sLory
Always Lhe lasL Lo geL a [oke
CeLs sLuck ln seL behavlor, can'L leL lL go
Lacks soclal LacL and/or ls anLlsoclal and/or soclally lsolaLed
oor Llme managemenL ls always laLe
ulsorganlzed

Pas a problem paylng aLLenLlon
ls hyperacLlve and/or lmpulslve
Pas obsesslve LhoughLs or behavlors
Argues all Lhe Llme and ls generally uncooperaLlve
LxhlblLs slgns of an eaLlng dlsorder
lalled Lo Lhrlve as an lnfanL
Mlmlcs sounds or words repeaLedly wlLhouL really undersLandlng Lhe meanlng
Appears bored, aloof, and abrupL
Consldered sLrange by oLher chlldren

lnablllLy Lo form frlendshlps
Pas dlfflculLy sharlng en[oymenL, lnLeresLs, or achlevemenLs wlLh oLher people
lnapproprlaLely glddy or sllly
AcLs lnapproprlaLely ln soclal slLuaLlons
1alks lncessanLly and asks Lhe same quesLlon repeLlLlvely
Pas no or llLLle [olnL aLLenLlon, such as Lhe need Lo polnL Lo an ob[ecL Lo geL your aLLenLlon
uldn'L look aL self ln mlrror as a Loddler
oor maLh reasonlng (word problems, geomeLry, algebra)
oor readlng comprehenslon and pragmaLlc skllls
Mlsses Lhe blg plcLure
very analyLlcal
Llkes slapsLlck" or obvlous physlcal humor
ls very good aL flndlng mlsLakes (spelllng)
1akes everyLhlng llLerally
uoesn'L always reach a concluslon when speaklng
SLarLed speaklng early
Pas LesLed for a hlgh lC, buL scores run Lhe whole specLrum, or lC ls above normal ln verbal ablllLy and
below average ln performance ablllLles

Was an early word reader
ls lnLeresLed ln unusual Loplcs
Learns ln a roLe (memorlzlng) manner
Learns exLraordlnary amounLs of speclflc facLs abouL a sub[ecL
ls lmpaLlenL
Speaks ln a monoLone, has llLLle volce lnflecLlon
ls a poor nonverbal communlcaLor
uoesn'L llke loud nolses (llke flreworks)
Speaks ouL loud regardlng whaL he or she ls Lhlnklng
1alks ln your face" - ls a space lnvader
Cood reader buL does noL en[oy readlng
AnalyLlcal, led by loglc
lollows rules wlLhouL quesLlonlng Lhem
Cood aL keeplng Lrack of Llme
Laslly memorlzes spelllng and maLhemaLlcal formulas
Ln[oys observlng raLher Lhan parLlclpaLlng
Would raLher read an lnsLrucLlon manual before Lrylng someLhlng new
MaLh was ofLen Lhe flrsL academlc sub[ecL LhaL became a problem
Pas loLs of allergles
8arely geLs colds and lnfecLlons
Pas had or has eczema or asLhma

Skln has llLLle whlLe bumps, especlally on Lhe back of Lhe arms
ulsplays erraLlc behavlor - good one day , bad Lhe nexL
Craves cerLaln foods, especlally dalry and wheaL producLs
roblems wlLh bowels, such as consLlpaLlon and dlarrhea
Pas a rapld hearL raLe and/or hlgh blood pressure
Appears bloaLed, especlally afLer meals, and ofLen complalns of sLomach palns
Pad body odor
SweaLs a loL
Pands are always molsL and clammy

9"%* 3,/*": 5"#.675"%+4+"-46 (&")*+,--.+/"
llne moLor problems (poor or slow handwrlLlng)
ulfflculLy wlLh flne moLor skllls, such as buLLonlng a shlrL
oor or lmmaLure hand grlp when wrlLlng
1ends Lo wrlLe very large for age or grade level
SLumbles over words when faLlgued
LxhlblLed delay ln crawllng, sLandlng, and/or walklng
Loves sporLs and ls good aL Lhem
Cood muscle Lone
oor drawlng skllls
ulfflculLy learnlng Lo play muslc
Llkes Lo flx Lhlngs wlLh Lhe hands and ls lnLeresLed ln mechanlcal Lhlngs
ulfflculLy plannlng and coordlnaLlng body movemenLs

uoesn'L seem Lo have many sensory lssues or problems, such as senslLlvlLy Lo sound
Pas good spaLlal awareness
Pas good sense of balance
LaLs [usL abouL anyLhlng
Pas a normal Lo above-average sense of LasLe and smell
Llkes Lo be hugged and held
uoes noL have any oddlLles concernlng cloLhlng
Pas audlLory processlng problems
Seems noL Lo hear well, alLhough hearlng LesLs normal
uelay ln speaklng was aLLrlbuLed Lo ear lnfecLlons
CeLs moLlon slck and has oLher moLlon slckness lssues
ls noL under senslLlve or oversenslLlve Lo paln
Cverly happy and affecLlonaLe, loves Lo hug and klss
lrequenLly moody and lrrlLable
Loves dolng new or dlfferenL Lhlngs buL geLs bored easlly
Lacks moLlvaLlon
WlLhdrawn and shy
Lxcesslvely cauLlous, pesslmlsLlc, or negaLlve
uoesn'L seem Lo geL any pleasure ouL of llfe
Soclally wlLhdrawn
Crles easlly, feellngs geL hurL easlly
LmpaLheLlc Lo oLher people's feellngs, reads people's emoLlons well
CeLs embarrassed easlly

very senslLlve Lo whaL oLhers Lhlnk abouL hlm or her
rocrasLlnaLes
ls exLremely shy, especlally around sLrangers
ls very good aL nonverbal communlcaLlons
ls well llked by oLher chlldren and Leachers
uoes noL have any behavloral problems ln school
undersLands soclal rules
Pas poor self-esLeem
PaLes dolng homework
ls very good aL soclal lnLeracLlon
Makes good eye conLacL
Llkes Lo be around people and en[oys soclal acLlvlLles, such as golng Lo parLles
uoesn'L llke Lo go Lo sleepovers
ls noL good aL followlng rouLlnes
Can'L follow mulLlple-sLep dlrecLlons
ls ln Louch wlLh own feellngs
!umps Lo concluslons
very good aL blg plcLure skllls
ls an lnLulLlve Lhlnker and ls led by feellngs
Cood aL absLracL free" assoclaLlon
oor analyLlcal skllls
very vlsual, loves lmages and paLLerns
ConsLanLly quesLlons why you're dolng someLhlng or why rules exlsL
Pas poor sense of Llme
Ln[oys Louchlng and feellng acLual ob[ecLs
Pas Lrouble prlorlLlzlng
ls unllkely Lo read lnsLrucLlons before Lrylng someLhlng new
ls naLurally creaLlve, buL needs Lo work hard Lo develop full poLenLlal
Would raLher do Lhlngs lnsLead of observe
uses good volce lnflecLlon when speaklng
Mlsreads or omlLs common small words
Pas dlfflculLy saylng long words
8eads very slowly and laborlously
Pad dlfflculLy namlng colors, ob[ecLs, and leLLers as a Loddler
needs Lo hear or see concepLs many Llmes ln order Lo learn Lhem
Pas shown a downward Lrend ln achlevemenL LesL scores or schools performance
Schoolwork ls lnconslsLenL
Was a laLe Lalker
Pas dlfflculLy pronounclng words (poor phonlcs)
Pad dlfflculLy learnlng Lhe alphabeL, nursery rhymes, or songs when young
Pas dlfflculLy flnlshlng homework or flnlshlng a conversaLlon
AcLs before Lhlnklng and makes careless mlsLakes
uaydreams a loL
Pas dlfflculLy sequenclng evenLs ln Lhe proper order
CfLen wrlLes leLLers backward
ls poor aL baslc maLh skllls
Pas poor memorlzaLlon skllls
Pas poor academlc ablllLy

Pas an lC lower Lhan expecLed and verbal scores are lower Lhan nonverbal scores
erforms poorly on verbal LesLs
needs Lo be Lold Lo do someLhlng several Llmes before acLlng on lL
SLuLLers or sLuLLered when younger
ls a poor speller
uoesn'L read dlrecLlons well
CeLs chronlc ear lnfecLlon
rone Lo benlgn Lumors or cysLs
Pas Laken anLlbloLlcs more Lhan Len Lo flfLeen Llmes before Lhe age of 10
Pas had Lubes puL ln Lhe ears
CaLches colds frequenLly
no allergles
Pas a bedweLLlng problem
Pas or had an lrregular hearLbeaL, such as an arrhyLhmla or a hearL murmur

Add up your score for 8lCP1 braln and compare Lo your score for LLl1 braln. Pow lmbalanced are you?

How to ensure that your child WILL HAVE ADD, ADHD:

***Brain issues such as ADD, ADHD, PDD-NOS, Aspergers, and Autism are
usually Right Cortical deficiencies therefore a relatively HYPER Left Cortex. The left
brain stimulators we are exposed to in todays society exceed the right brain
stimulators. Below is a brief list of things you do NOT want to do with your child as
they are left brain stimulators and may contribute to such conditions listed above.

1. As an infant, get them on baby Einstein (strongly works the left frontal lobe
only)
2. Get them a Leapfrog or other learning video game as early as possible
3. Let them play computer games, Nintendo, iPad, iPhone, texting, etc
4. Have them watch TV a couple hours a day
5. Dont let them get outside and play if at all possible
6. Dont let them run around and play make-believe as this is right brain
stimulation
7. Feed them Lunchables, Sunny-D, Capri-Sun and the like

--Keep this up, be determined, and you WILL have a child with a VERY imbalanced
brain and serious learning and behavioral problems!


Chapter Five

NEUROFEEDBACK
A NEW APPROACH

NEVER STOP ASKING WHY

For over 40 years the accepted medical treatment for neurological conditions such as
anxiety, depression and ADD/ADHD has been the use of medications. Many
disadvantages of this approach are widely known, such as exceedingly high cost and
unwanted side effects, which ultimately lead to a decrease in quality of life instead of an
improvement. Patients and families are progressively frustrated with a one-size-fits-all
treatment that fails to address the actual cause of the problem and fails ask the
question, Why? Why does a person have anxiety? Why does a child suffer from
ADHD? Dissatisfaction with the poor standard of care for managing neurological
disease is ubiquitous and increasing because it is based on addressing only the what
(a.k.a. the diagnosis), then covering up the associated symptoms with drugs. We make
no forward progress when the why is ignored and the what is focused upon.
Thankfully, there are other non-invasive and non-toxic ways to change the brain that
identify and treat the root cause.
A new and exciting field called Neurofeedback has emerged and is gaining positive
results for many people with debilitating neurological symptoms and conditions. The
success of Neurofeedback is based on the fact that the brain has the ability to create
new connections, in a process referred to as Neuroplasticity. Neurofeedback sessions
usually last around 30 minutes and in that time the correct pathway/brainwaves are
stimulated hundreds of times. Through Neuroplasticity, the brain is essentially trained
to continue to fire this desirable path/brainwave literally changing the adverse
behavior/symptoms. Neuroplasticity also allows Neurofeedback to change timing and
activation patterns in many areas of the brain
simultaneously. Incredibly, this leads to global
improvements in attention, memory, emotional
stability, and mental flexibility. Neurofeedback
addresses underlying causes by restoring normal
brainwave functions long-term. The sole use of
prescription medications to cover up symptoms can now be thought of as an out-of-date
practice.
THE HISTORY
A DISCOVERY MADE BEFORE ITS TIME
In the 1930s, Germany was an unfriendly place for anyone with emotional issues.
Experimentation in brain activity centered more around, why one race is superior to
another and less on helping the helpless. Most doctors with any morals, including
Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, fled Nazi control as they could see the writing on
the wall. Hans Berger stayed. While he should be no ones hero, it was he who was the
first to record brain waves in an epileptic patient during a seizure. His discoveries,
Though EEG and subsequent
Neurofeedback treatment doesnt
tell us why, it points to what
and gives us a how to correct
things.

largely on psychiatric patients at the University of Jena in Berlin, paved the way for
understanding that the human brain emits signals, waves of electricity, much like a radio
transmitter.
These waves, energized by our thoughts, change with sensory reception and with
mental focus. Berger initially found many subjects to test and compare differences in
this radio activity until the Nazi social hygiene process soon exterminated most
considered mentally ill, even those in their own race. By 1941, over seventy thousand
German patients had been euthanized and Berger found himself in a deeper depression
than his test subjects. Whether it was from deep remorse over all he saw or his own
mental illness, Berger soon ended his own life in the same sanatorium where he
worked.
The great irony of Bergers life is that the brain waves he discovered are now
understood to be a key in relieving the depression from which he suffered. Though he
obviously couldnt realize it at the time, this electric field he measured paints a picture.
Like the discovery of a new color and canvas that someone later would apply in ways,
and shapes, and forms that make us stop and look and experience beauty, so Bergers
crude findings allowed others to use this enlightenment to help mankind. God is peculiar
that way.
Patients with Alzheimers disease and Multiple Sclerosis show marked changes in brain
waves. Also, those with Depression, Anxiety, and every ASD patient will show changes.
But far from what Berger and even much later brain scientist thought, the neurons are
not the only brain structure conducting electricity. Glial cells also affect brain activity.
Brain waves arise from a combined electrical frequency much like a crowd at a football
stadium; individual conversations are silenced from the collective whole. While between
plays, a noisy purr clutters in the background but as soon as the running back breaks
through the defensive wall, the crowd unites in a purposeful cheer. So to your brain
waves, a collection of noise from a variety of clutter becomes more organized and
precise given a stimuli or intent.
We measure electrical flow, like a current; as it depolarizes a neuronal axon it must
return to form a circuit. It does so by passing through glial cells surging in waves that
oscillate in patterns depending on activity. This collective roar is what we measure on
an EEG. When we are relaxed, brain waves whisper in a slow wave pattern; when there
is activity, the waves crash upon the shore colliding together in a more haphazard
pattern.
Though glial cells, specifically astrocytes, do not generate an electrical impulse, their
steady electrical hum comes from discharges from the neurons. Many disorders of
sleep, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and even stroke are associated with gradual changes in
glial cells ability to conduct voltage. These changes in glial function and more gross
changes in neuronal conduction are what we assess in an EEG. A Brain Map gives us

a picture of all this commotion. Though EEG and subsequent Neurofeedback treatment
doesnt tell us why, it points to what and gives us a how to correct things.
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, non-painful technique for monitoring and improving
brain activity for both children and adults. As used today, neurofeedback was
developed in the 1960s, where researchers explored findings that people could become
aware of their own brain electrical activity, as captured by the electroencephalogram
(EEG). It was found that EEG activity could be altered deliberately by means of
feedback of EEG information to the subject. Around this same timeframe, a researcher
from The UCLA School of Medicine, M. Barry Sterman of was performing sleep studies
on cats finding that a certain rhythmic activity was present in both the sleeping and
waking state. He used this knowledge to successfully train cats to produce and sustain
specific brainwave frequencies using rewards. This is noted as being the first time in
history where scientific results demonstrate that behavior could be altered by EEG
conditioning. Incidentally, NASA then approached Sterman regarding his work
secondary to a problem they were noticing with Apollo mission astronauts. It was
suspected that their exposure to continuous low levels of rocket fuel was decreasing
their cognitive function. The rocket fuel was known to be capable of inducing seizures at
high levels. Dr. Sterman agreed to test rocket fuel exposure on his lab animals and
discovered that, indeed the rocket fuel did indeed induce seizures in cats. However,
there was a wide variation is each cats seizure threshold. After further investigation, it
was found that those cats which had undergone the brainwave training had a
significantly higher seizure threshold than the others. It was concluded that brainwave
training can positively impact susceptibility to neurological dysfunction. This small
experiment propelled a lengthy period of research in which it was thoroughly
demonstrated that seizure incidence, duration and intensity could be reduced with EEG
training.
Moving forward with this knowledge, a version of EEG biofeedback called alpha
training became popular in the sixties and seventies, which unfortunately soured its use
for serious study by most universities. And although the work of Sterman was sound
and easily replicated by a number of research groups, it was never truly picked up for
any other practical purpose other than for those with severe seizure disorder. His
technique was thought to be too obscure, time-consuming and expensive by
mainstream research and practitioner communities. In regards to the work of Sterman,
Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D. writes:
Perhaps most significantly, these findings---intriguing though they were---could not be
fitted into a framework in which they could be understood at the time. EEG
neurofeedback was therefore a glaring case of prematurity in science, a discovery
made before its time. Significant advances would be necessary in the neurosciences
before the realm of EEG frequencies could be understood and integrated into the body
of scientific knowledge. This is only happening now, some two to three decades later. At

the time, the results remained as scientific curiosities and as such soon fell by the
wayside.
Seeing its potential for further use in other conditions, researchers continued to
investigate EEG biofeedback and discovered some major findings - the observation
was consistently made that hyperactivity in epileptics seemed to subside with the
training. Over the years it was established that the technique could be helpful not only
with hyperactivity but also with attention deficit disorder, as well as with specific learning
disabilities. Just as the ADHD work grew out of epilepsy studies, these insights and
findings accrue incrementally.
THE RESEARCH
!the most comprehensive form of integrative medicine! clinically validated
and applied.
Today, Neurofeedback is making a major come-back secondary to improved normative
databases (such as Clear Mind Center) and development and improvement of
technology that can properly deliver and monitor this type treatment. NF is increasingly
being utilized by forward-thinking practitioners boldly accept to continue to move
forward with advances in technology instead of harboring in mainstreams quasi-
evidence-based protocols.
Also, due to the publics dissatisfaction with the standard of care, the demand for
alternatives to pharmaceuticals has risen. For example, it is estimated that two million
children in the U S are struggling with the symptoms of ADHD and according to the
CDC as of 2007, parents of 2.7 million youth ages 4-17 years (66.3% of those with a
current diagnosis) report that their child was receiving medication treatment for the
disorder. The medication prescribed, Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a powerful psycho-
stimulant, chemically similar to cocaine and amphetamines. Reported side effects of
this FDA controlled class of medications, include problems with insufficient growth and
weight and the long-term effects are still unknown. Surveys of families with children on
these drugs show continuing and elevating dissatisfaction. However, the medical
community seems to not be responding because the numbers of children taking these
toxic substances is growing. In 2013 a Canadian research group took a look at this
trend of expanding medication use for ADHD.
We ask whether this increase in medication use was associated with improvements in
emotional functioning and short- and long-run academic outcomes among children with
ADHD. We find evidence of increases in emotional problems among girls, and
reductions in educational attainment among boys. Our results!suggest that expanding

medication use can have negative consequences given the average way these drugs
are used in the community (Currie, Stabile & Jones 2013).
The most disturbing aspect of this trend (of increased medication use) is that sound
medical research clearly suggests Neurofeedback is an equally effective treatment for
ADHD. This is supported by the findings of a recent study comparing NF to placebo
training in children with ADHD (Beauregard & Levesque 2006). From this study it was
concluded that NF has the capacity to functionally normalize the brain systems
mediating selective attention and response inhibition in ADHD. Researchers found a
normalization of brainwaves in the frontal lobes of the brain, those areas that are
typically abnormal in a child or adult with ADHD. They also astonishingly discovered
that the children undergoing NF treatment had an increase in the density of the area of
the brain responsible for learning, impulse control and emotion. This means that not
only does NF change the function of the abnormal parts of the brain, but it can also
change the brains structure!

Another recent study on Neurofeedback comprehensively reviewed current literature on
the effectiveness and specificity of NF for the treatment of ADHD. Clinically informative
evidence-based data were also included in this review. Most nonrandomized controlled
trials found positive results with medium-to-large effect sizes. When only randomized
controlled studies are considered, the evidence for effectiveness is smaller. However, it
is believed by the authors that methodological caveats, such as sample size, sample
selection and the quality of the training protocol used may have contributed to
Strong research evidence also indicates that there are functional brain
abnormalities associated with anxiety and panic disorder and post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A particularly robust body of research
has documented that depression is associated with an activation difference
between the right and left prefrontal cortex. A large number of EEG studies
have established that the left frontal area is associated with more positive
affect and memories, whereas the right hemisphere is more involved in
negative emotion. It would be desirable to find a treatment that also would
help address the biologic aspects of mental health disorders.
Neurofeedback holds promise for offering such an alternative. EEG
biofeedback is an exciting, cutting-edge technology that offers an additional
treatment alternative for modifying dysfunctional, biologic brain patterns
that are associated with various psychiatric conditions. It has the advantage
of not being as invasive as medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or
electroconvulsive therapy, and it has been associated with few side effects
or adverse reactions.
- D. Corydon Hammond, PhD, ABEN/ECNS, in his article, Neurofeedback with anxiety
and affective disorders published, Child Adolesc Psychiatric Clin N Am, 14 (2005) 105
123

decreased results. The final conclusion of this study reports, Recent findings suggest
that NF is a promising alternative for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). Follow-up studies support long-term effects of Neurofeedback
(Moriyama TS, 2012).
In a recent paper Update on ADHD disorder published in Current Opinion in Pediatrics,
Dr. Katie Campbell Daley, staff physician at the Department of Pediatrics at Harvard
Medical School, reviewed the research for the treatment of ADHD. Her research
concludes, Overall these findings support the use of multi-modal treatment including
medication, counseling and EEG biofeedback!with EEG biofeedback in particular
providing a sustained effect even without stimulant treatment. The therapy most
promising by recent clinical trials appears to be EEG biofeedback.

Based on all current data, in November 2012 the American Academy of Pediatrics
approved Neurofeedback as a Level 1 or best support treatment option for children
suffering from ADHD. Although there are theories as to why it is seldom utilized by
mainstream medicine, it is still a question that has remained unanswered.
The editors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric clinics of North America report, There
is a large body of scientific research documenting the effectiveness of NF for several
areas of psychological or neurodevelopment difficulty. These studies have been
published in numerous scientific and professional journals in the US and abroad.
Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals are not aware of the extent of research
support.

The results of a study by the National Institute of Mental Health on
neurofeedback for A.D.H.D. were recently announced at the annual meeting of
the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In an interview,
the studys director, Dr. L. Eugene Arnold, an emeritus professor of psychiatry
at Ohio State, noted that there had been quite a bit of improvement in many
of the childrens behavior, as reported by parents and teachers. Dr. Arnold said
that if the results bore out that neurofeedback was making the difference, he
would seek financing for a broader study, with as many as 100 subjects.
Russell A. Barkley, a professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South
Carolina and a leading authority on attention problems, has long dismissed
claims that neurofeedback can help. But Dr. Barkley says he was persuaded to
take another look after Dutch scientists published an analysis of recent
international studies finding significant reductions in impulsiveness and
inattention.

Neurofeedback has been shown to be effective, clinically for other neurological
diseases such as depression, anxiety, OCD, dementia and more. The growth of studies
exploring and demonstrating the utilization of NF has exploded over the past 15 years,
with references in the hundreds of thousands in the Library of National Medicine. Dr.
Robert Turner, MD, an expert on neurotherapy, which includes NF, says, Now is the
time, the coming of age, of the field of neurotherapy, because it is now being shown to
be the most comprehensive form of integrative medicine mechanistically, functionally,
and clinically validated and applied.
Neurofeedback can improve cognitive performance in healthy patients and those with
conditions that affect working memory, attention, and executive functions such as those
with major depressive disorder (MDD). Behavioral results show the effectiveness of this
intervention in a variety of cerebral functions. Those with depression are able to make
great improvements with a success rate of up to 90%, as demonstrated by The Beck
Depression Inventory. Using this international standardized tool, results are not simply
anecdotal but scientific.
WHO CAN BENEFIT
Neurofeedback allows abnormal brainwaves to be rehabilitated; in doing so this alters
both the structure and function of the brain. When a normal pattern of brainwaves is
restored, physiological and cognitive symptoms decline. Abnormal brainwaves often
exist in those with neurological and emotional disorders, thus making NF a viable
therapy for a wide array of conditions. As discussed, the current medical research
supports NF for conditions for a vast array of conditions.

Neurofeedback allows abnormal brainwaves to be rehabilitated; in doing so this alters
both the structure and function of the brain. When a normal pattern of brainwaves is
restored, physiological and cognitive symptoms decline. Abnormal brainwaves often
exist in those with neurological and emotional disorders, thus making NF a viable
therapy for a wide array of conditions. As discussed, the current medical research
supports NF for conditions for a vast array of conditions. Although no data is available
to guide clinicians on the predictors of response to NF, it has been postulated that
response and sensitivity to medication may be a predictor of a similar response to NF.
Neurofeedback research has documented its value in the treatment of a
variety of symptoms relevant to a brain injury population; including seizures,
memory, concentration and attention, unstable mood, impulsiveness, anxiety,
depression, sleep issues, and even anosmia and physical balance.
Preliminary research on neurofeedback treatment of TBI is very
encouraging
- Neurofeedback Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury, By: D. Corydon Hammond,
Ph.D., ECNS, QEEG-D, BCIA-EEG

No safety issues have emerged from clinical trials and NF seems to be well tolerated by
those who have used it. It is important to note that Neurofeedback does not specifically
target any disorder but trains abnormal brainwaves. The goal is to slowly guide the brain
back into normal, healthy brainwave ranges and reconnect neural pathways that have
been disconnected. The overall aim of treatment is an improvement in global brain
regulation, which in turn impacts a variety of symptoms. When patients reach their
treatment goals, an additional 5-10 sessions are often conducted to help set in
(consolidate) the NFB training.
This is a list of symptoms that are often shown in research studies to be clinically
responsive to Neurofeedback:
ADD / ADHD
ADDICTION
ANXIETY
AUTISM
BIPOLAR DISORDER
DEPRESSION
CHRONIC FATIGUE
CHRONIC PAIN
EPILEPSY
FIBROMYALGIA
HEAD INJURIES
INSOMNIA
MEMORY LOSS
MIGRAINES
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE (OCD)
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
SLEEP DISORDERS

It should be noted that NF may be contraindicated for those with severe learning
disorders, psychotic behaviors or mental deficits. NF should only be performed by an
experienced provider in those with head injury seizure, stroke, psychosis, bipolar
disorder, autism, fibromyalgia and severe neurological problems. The good candidate
for this therapy must be able to learn a new skill in the context of a loving, supporting

environment. Those who are most successful are motivated from within and not from
an external source (e.g. a demanding parent). Those who fail typically have one of more
of the following symptoms: poor diet and other lifestyle choices, poor emotional support
and sleep deprivation.
THE BRAIN MAP
A MAP IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PERSON READING IT
In order to create a Neurofeedback program that is specific to each patient, an initial
Brain Map must be performed. During the mapping sessions, the captured brainwaves
are used to create a visual representation for each lobe of the brain and each specific
brainwave (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta). This procedure is performed in a professional
office-setting where a cap with electrodes is placed painlessly on the scalp. A
snapshot of the patients brainwaves is taken using quantitative electroencephalogram
(QEEG). The entire mapping process takes approximately 45 minutes the Clear
Mind Centers Neurointegrator system records sessions both with eyes opened and
eyes closed based upon recent research showing the changes in brain activity based on
visual stimulation. The data is then sent to a normative database where artifacts (such
as eye blinks and jaw movements) are removed and brainwaves are compared with
thousands of others. The information is then processed with a large series of complex
algorithms and a Brain Map, such as depicted below (by Clear Mind Centers
Neurointegrator) is produced.


It is important to note that Neurofeedback should be directed by and performed at the
office of a skilled clinical practitioner. It is best to choose a practitioner with a strong
knowledge of neurology and one who is experienced in clinical evaluation. In his book
Getting Started with Neurofeedback, John Demos writes,
A Training Plan is based on much more than a topographical brain map. It requires
information from at least three clinical areas: Diagnosis, EEG data, plus an
understanding or Neurology. Hence, TP = D + E + N or DEN.
The practitioner will use the Brain Map to identify problem areas, while combining and
correlating subjective data to create a personalized Neurofeedback program. Specific
areas of the brain will be targeted according to both the objective findings from the
Brain Map and subjective from the patients assessment. These assessments may be
provided by the manufacturer of the NF device or the practitioner may use one or more
of the following instruments:
Amen questionnaire (Amen, 2001)
Toomins questionnaire (www.biocompresearch.org)
ADD/ADHD behavioral checklist (Sears & Thompson, 1998)
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; from The Psychological Corporation)
Burns Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Burns, 1999)
Dissociative Experience Scales (DES; Bernstein & Putnam, 1986)
Practitioner-designed assessments
Using both forms of data (objective and subjective), the practitioner can also use tools
such as the 10-20 system for electrode placements and the basic brain functions that
are located beneath each of the electrodes (see below).

These brainwaves, as depicted above in the example Brain Map, are created by
electrical impulses from neurons as they communicate within the brain and the body.
The brain produces four primary types of brain waves: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta.
Their frequencies are measured in Hertz. Beta (12.5-25 Hz) is primarily active during
your awake-state, which is the majority of your day. Alpha (8-12 Hz) has to do with your
subconscious, and is dominant during relaxed states when your eyes are closed but you
are not asleep. Theta (4-8 Hz) is present briefly during the periods before you fall asleep
and before you fully wake up. Delta (1-4 Hz) is primarily active when you are asleep. It
is well documented that people who suffer from neurological problems have abnormal
brain waves and therefore abnormal Brain Maps. For example, the Brain Maps of a
person with ADHD shows elevated delta or theta brainwaves, while those who suffer
from anxiety have elevated beta brainwaves. Those with depression will have elevated
alpha brainwaves, while those suffering from memory loss usually have decreased
posterior theta brainwaves. Neurofeedback can successfully and permanently correct
these abnormal brainwaves, thereby diminishing or completely eradicating the
symptoms of the condition.
Some general abnormal findings on Brain Maps include but are not limited to:
High magnitude of theta with low magnitude of beta waves in those with ADHD
High alpha waves in LH compared to RH in those with depression and/or ADD

High beta wave in RH (particularly pre-frontal & parietal) compared to LH in those
with anxiety, stress or bruxism
Low magnitude of theta waves in posterior bilaterally in cognitive impairment,
memory loss or sleep deprivation
Temporal lobe area slowing can be found after concussion
The mean dominant frequency of alpha can predict the entire speed of the brain
Excessive or laterally asymmetrical theta waves in those with depression, anxiety
or other emotional disorders
The Reticuloactivating System (RAS) and hypothalamus have very dense
interconnections controlling many of the basic bodily functions and hormonal
functions via the pituitary gland - irregularities in these functions may be manifest
in delta wave abnormalities
Overall EEG slowing is associated with brain fog, slow reaction time, poor
calculation, poor judgment and impulse control
Increase in anterior alpha in those children who day-dream or have depression
Increase in frontal alpha in those with ADHD or depression
Gross posterior to anterior imbalances in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Increased posterior beta, alpha deficit and high frontal coherence in PTSD
Central or anterior slowing (or wide-spread beta) in those who have suffered a
traumatic event
Elevated central theta in those with ADHD
High dominant alpha and beta in those with anxiety and insomnia
Low dominant alpha and beta in those with learning disabilities and poor
cognitive processing
P3 or P5 slowing in those with dyslexia
Increased amount of beta at C3 C4 in those with tics
High focal alpha in those with corresponding traumatic brain injury
Low alpha in those with excess inhibitory neurotransmitter or the inhibitory areas
of the brain are overactive
High magnitude alpha with slow alpha dominant frequency in those with
hypothyroidism
If delta is high on the left under asymmetry, this has to do with cognitive
problems
If delta is high on the right under asymmetry, this is consistent with emotional
problems
If theta is high on the left, this has to do with organizational problems
If theta is high on the right, this is consistent with problems of impulsivity
Slowed alpha under dominant frequency can be associated with hypothyroidism,
toxicities affecting the liver, or depression
Increased beta or theta can also be indicative of food allergies or stress

The following quick guide is useful in understanding the Subcomponent Analysis system
(see graphic below) of the Clear Mind Maps brain mapping system (Soutar & Longo
2012).

Delta Red is indicative of white matter damage
Delta blue is indicative of too little to no continuity (connectivity).
Theta Red is indicative of injury to the cortex stroke (4-7 red), ADD, or TBI.
Theta Blue is indicative of lack of emotional connection of lack of memory.
LoAlpha Red is indicative of metabolic issues, hyperthyroid or other thyroid problems.
LoAlpha Blue is indicative of anxiety (in children it may be myelination problems).
HiAlpha Red is indicative of possible head injury.
HiAlpha Blue is indicative of anxiety and PTSD.
LoBeta Red is indicative of anxiety and depression mixed.
LoBeta Blue is indicative of not blocking information from motor strip, fibromyalgia, or
overwhelm from sensory input.
Beta Red is indicative of worry (15-12 red) and insomnia.
Beta Blue is indicative of cognitive deficit.
HiBeta Red is indicative of hyper vigilance.
HiBeta Blue is indicative of under-arousal.
Brain Maps can also provide information on the functional status of the brain, which is
often necessary to gain further insight on how to successfully rehabilitate patients after
concussions, cerebrovascular incidents (strokes), traumatic brain injury or anxious

events. As depicted below, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) only gives the
practitioner information regarding structure.

NF therapy is based on the quality of the Brain Maps recordings. Therefore, it is of
upmost importance for the patient to follow this list of instructions before the evaluation:
Alcohol should be avoided for 1-2 days before the test.
A good nights sleep is needed.
Do not come in hungry avoid sugary snacks.
Bring in some water to drink.
Hair must be washed the day of the test.
Hair must be dry for the test to prevent a salt bridge.
Do not use hair conditioners, sprays, gels, etc.
All earrings will have to be removed.
Avoid over-the-counter (OTC) and supplements for 3-4 days before testing.
Report all prescription medication use.

DURING THE SESSION
Neurofeedback is a training to enhance self-regulatory capacity over brain activity
patterns and consequently over brain mental states. During a NF session, EEG
sensors are situated on the scalp. Specific brainwave activity is then detected,
amplified, and recorded. The process by which a patients brainwaves can be altered is
through operant conditioning - a method where a reward is given for positive behavior.
This type of conditioning was founded in the 1920s and is still widely used today in
behavioral therapy, especially in the military. The operant conditioning is produced by a
computer as it monitors your brainwaves while you watch a movie or listen to music.
When deviations from normal brainwave activity occur, the computer triggers the video
(or music) to fade, which alerts the patient that they are outside normal ranges. In order
to get the reward of being able to view the movie, the brain must correct its abnormal
brainwave, so will adjusts itself back to a normal pattern to make the video return. For
example, a child with ADHD learns to maintain low activity of the delta waves and an
increase in beta waves, or the movie will not continue to play. With this, the child
exercises the brain and increases his focus and attention. Within an adequate number
of treatments of this process, the brain learns to stay in the normal ranges on its own
without the visual reward from the computer. Training the brain pathways and building
new neural connections allows the brain to function normally on its own and symptoms
from irregular brain activity, such as depression and ADHD will decline. Thus NF is a
self-regulation skill that inspires growth through self-awareness. The patient also learns
how to access that improved state of mind for future use outside the training session.
Some types of Neurofeedback also employ the use of brain wave entrainment (BWE),
whereby brainwave patterns are modified by specific frequencies of flashing light. Using
this type of light therapy can accelerate positive outcomes of NF training, as it further
encourages the brain to produce the proper brainwaves.
ADDING TO THE SUCCESS
Diaphragmatic Breathing
The brain is highly dependent on adequate amounts of both glucose and oxygen to
survive. In order for NF to be highly successful, both components must be in a normal
range. If oxygen or glucose is lacking, then treatment will not be at its best, as cerebral
blood flow is increased during NF sessions and therefore oxygen demand will be higher

in these areas. Normal breathing rates are 12-15 breaths per minute but lowering to 4-8
will likely lower tension and stress and increase total body oxygen levels. Higher oxygen
levels avoid blood alkalosis, which causes arteries to constrict and inhibits blood flow to
the brain.
Effective breathe work is key to successful neurofeedback training. More specifically,
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises should be employed concurrently with therapy,
especially in those who suffer from conditions like anxiety. The technique can be
learned with no equipment in a very short amount of time.
It is done in this manner: Remove tight-fitting clothing and put on a top that shows your
profile. Get a watch with a second hand. Count the number of complete breaths your
take (that is, both inhale and exhale) in one minute. The optimum rate is 4-8 breaths
per minute while relaxed. Breath rates of 15-25 are too fast. Next observe the way your
lungs fill with air: Stand sideways in front of a mirror and take a deep breath. What
moved, your chest, your abdomen, or, a combination of the two? If your chest moved
most, then you are a reverse breather sometimes known as a shallow breather.
There are two factors in correct breathing: rate of breath and method of breathing.
Learn to slow down your breath rate goes hand in hand with abdominal or
diaphragmatic breathing. Practice the following:
Exhale while pushing your stomach with both hands.
Try to talk. If you can still talk, then air remains in your lungs.
Evacuate the air until you can no longer talk.
Inhale. You should observe that only your stomach is moving.
Your chest should not be moving.
Repeat (Demos, p. 58)
TAKING AWAY FROM THE SUCCESS
It is important to remember that NF is not a magic bullet and that in some patients the
ability to rewire the brain may be impaired. This can also be thought of as having an
inherently lower degree of neuroplasticity, which cannot reliably be predicted. Some
common impairments leading to decreased outcomes are: missing a diagnosis of PTSD
with an emotional component that also needs to be addressed, a less-than-accurate
Brain Map recording or reading, a need for deep-state training or if the TP ' DEN.
Training can also be sabotaged, as described by Demos (p.181) by:
Motivation lacking by participant

Dysfunctional family dynamics that over-ride successes
Issues relating to adolescence
Poor cooperation, inability or unwillingness to follow instructions
Unhealthy lifestyle practices continue allowing the inflammatory cause to
continue
Critical incidents have shocked the system
Nevertheless, results can be expected when therapy is correctly devised and executed
in a person with no underlying sub-clinical etiology. For example, if an underlying
toxicity or a thyroid gland dysfunction is causing neurological pathology (e.g. brainwave
distortion), then results will be severally diminished. The majority of patients undergoing
NF training will need a complete metabolic work-up by a qualified health practitioner.
Results of NF are only as good as the body is able to heal and repair and create new
neural connections.

CONDITION SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Listed below is additional information for specific conditions from The Clear Mind
Center. This information was gathered from aboutneurofeedback.com. Additional
research and comprehensive studies can be found at the website of the International
Society for Neurofeedback and Research.

ADD/ADHD

More kids and adults with ADD/ADHD are using neurofeedback than any other problem.
Experienced clinicians estimate that at a minimum, they have significant impact with 80-
85% of these patients who complete 30-40 training sessions. Is it the most commonly
treated condition because its the easiest condition to deal with? Not really. ADD/ADHD
often has many different symptoms rolled into one diagnosis which must be sorted out
as part of the Neurofeedback treatment. There are some practical reasons that
ADD/ADHD is the most common condition used for Neurofeedback:
Increasing concerns that putting a child on medications for years is not a good thing.
Parents want an alternative that works.
"The neurofeedback idea is intrinsically based on the findings of neurobiology,"
says Nikolaus Weiskopf of University College London who was part of the
research team that showed its feasibility just over a decade ago. "It ties in nicely
with the general trend toward biologically-based psychiatry."

For many children, medications dont work very well and have side effects that make
them feel less normal, or create more problems.
There are thousands of Neurofeedback success stories around the country. More
clinicians are adding Neurofeedback because patients are asking for it or talking
about it.
There is solid, published research on ADD/ADHD and Neurofeedback.
There is increased awareness of the role of the brain in ADHD (as well as other
disorders). In the last 5 years, every magazine seems to have had a brain imaging
picture on its cover. As a result, Neurofeedback as a brain-based intervention doesnt
seem so foreign, and there is much more openness towards the concept.

Anxiety
Many clinicians say generalized anxiety is one of the first symptoms that responds to
training and much of the research has proved this to be true. Significant improvements
are typically estimated at 80-90% of people going through a series of training. However,
results also depend very much on what other disorders may exist, meaning that we
must also address the metabolic issues that surround anxiety. More complex cases that
have multiple problems may take more expertise and time to respond. We still expect
that these more complex cases will respond to Neurofeedback coupled with appropriate
metabolic therapies. However, they take more time, expertise, and clinical skills that
mean not every clinician will achieve equal results with these cases.
Autism
Autism, PDD, and RAD are the fastest growing areas of Neurofeedback. The calming
effects of Neurofeedback produce noticeable results quickly in these severely-affected
populations. Due to the extreme nature of Autism, significantly more time may be
needed to see results.
Bipolar Disorder
Clinical reports from psychiatrists and psychologists indicate that Neurofeedback helps

patients with Bipolar Disorder become more stable and better able to reduce
medications.
Chronic Pain/Fatigue
For chronic pain, Neurofeedback helps reduce pain or perhaps how the brain manages
pain, even in severe cases.

Depression
Even for long-term, non-responsive depression cases, Neurofeedback typically helps
alleviate symptoms. It can also help reduce the need for multiple medications, which is
common for depression treatment. Depression and dysthymia are among the more
common conditions Neurofeedback helps. This is not to say its easy, clinical skills are
important and there are a variety of protocol options, depending on the comorbidities
associated with the client.

Epilepsy/Seizures
Multiple peer-reviewed studies show a reduction in seizures that are non-responsive to
medications and that the training effect holds. This literature is compelling in respected
journals, and the clinical reports consistently reflect improvement. But for several
reasons, including a lack of funding to educate physicians, the research is not well
known.
In a study reported in the April 2013 Translational Psychiatry, Michelle Hampson and
colleagues at Yale used neurofeedback to train participantspeople who reported high
levels of contamination anxiety to modify activity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a
brain area believed to play a key role in emotional regulation and to function abnormally
in psychiatric symptoms like anxiety.
Two sessions in the scanner reduced their anxiety response to provocative images, and
produced alterations in brain function that went well beyond the target area.
- 1he romlse of neurofeedback, 8y Carl Sherman., !uly 23, 2013

Learning Disabilities
Over the last few years, two professionals in particular have published data about new
brain training techniques they are using to target learning disabilities with QEEG, which
was exciting news for the field of Neurofeedback. Its common for reading, math and
other problems to improve with Neurofeedback and that is significantly helpful, but some
clients could still have deficits after Neurofeedback training. By adding in this new
technique of coherence training, a fairly sophisticated component of training, several
highly-reputed professionals are reporting more consistent improvements in dyslexia,
reading and math deficits, and visual and auditory processing problems.
Migraines
Therapists and doctors report that the frequency and intensity of migraines are often
reduced and sometimes eliminated.
Insomnia/Sleep Disorders
The first changes clients typically observe after receiving Neurofeedback relate to sleep.
This includes improvement in insomnia, bruxism, poor sleep quality, difficulty waking,
frequent waking, and nightmares.

Substance Abuse
In one published study, Neurofeedback was compared with a successful 12-step
program for crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin users. Sustained abstinence
was significantly greater (2 times or greater) with the group that also received
I've seen questions here and there on the forums about neurofeedback,
and as I just finished a course of neurofeedback treatment, I wanted to
briefly share my experience here for anyone considering it.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that it seems like magic. I feel like a
new person, or rather like an old one--my old self, who disappeared four
months ago into a nightmare of panic attacks and depression. Praise God!
- Blogger, katrinahopes, Neurofeedback: my experience on: March 11, 2011

Neurofeedback training. Previous published studies show similar results for alcoholics.
Substance abuse is an obvious form of poor self-regulation and self-medication.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Neuropsychologists have reported that improvement with TBI often occurs even many
years after the injury and that neural plasticity still exists. Emotional and behavioral
improvements are significant for this group.

The Future of Medicine
Although the Neurofeedback has been around for some time, it is now only beginning to
gain the moment it well deserves, as it has been clinically proven to consistently
produce results for a plethora of conditions. Advances in technology have helped NFB
become affordable and practical for many healthcare professionals, enabling patients to
have options other than the use of medication for treating illness. Wide-spread
discontentment with the one-med-fits-all approach for treating neurological and
psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADD/ADHD has also paved the
way for a new approach. Neurofeedback is safe, effective and non-invasive it
identifies and treats the root cause of symptoms, which is the future of medicine.

Katherine Ellison's son was 12 when he was diagnosed with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. "He was getting into fights. He wasn't doing
his homework. He was being very difficult with his little brother. And he was
just melting down day after day," Ellison says. "So I decided to devote a year
to trying out different approaches to see if we could make it any better."
In recent years, more people have been trying an alternative approach called
Neurofeedback; a type of therapy intended to teach the brain to stay calm and
focused. Neurofeedback is expensive, time consuming and still scientifically
unproved. But, there's growing evidence that it can help.
Ellison says the idea appealed to her immediately. "Because I was always
wary about using meds as a single approach or for very long, it seemed to be
an interesting alternative. It's really like meditation on steroids," says Ellison,
a journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting and who
has ADHD herself. Ellison has written a book about living with ADHD called
Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention. And one chapter of the book is devoted to
neurofeedback.

REFERENCES
Alvarez J, Meyer FL, Granoff DL, Lundy A. The effect of EEG biofeedback on reducing
post-cancer cognitive impairment. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Nov;12(6):475-87.
American Academy of Pediatrics report: Evidence-based Child and Adolescent
Psychosocial Interventions, released November 2012
Arns, M., de Ridder, S., Strehl, U., Breteler, M., & Coenen, A. (2009). Efficacy of
neurofeedback treatment in ADHD: the effects on inattention, impulsivity and
hyperactivity: a meta analysis.Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(3), 180-189.
Beauregard, M. Levesque, J. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
investigation of the effects of neurofeedback training on the neural bases of selective
attention and response inhibition in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2006 Mar;31(1):3-20).
Cantor, D. & Evans, J. (2013) Clinical Neurotherapy: Application of Techniques for
Treatment Waltham, MA: Academic Press.
Currie, J. Stabile, M., Jones, L. Do Stimulant Medications Improve Educational and
Behavioral Outcomes for Children with ADHD? NBER Working Paper No. 19105 June
2013
Demos, J. (2005). Getting Started with Neurofeedback. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company.
Duric, N., Assmus, J., Gundersen, D., & Elgen, I. (2012). Neurofeedback for the
treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD: a randomized and controlled clinical
trial using parental reports. BMC Psychiatry, 12(1), 107.
Escolano, C. EEG-based upper-alpha neurofeedback for cognitive enhancement in
major depressive disorder: A preliminary, uncontrolled study. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med
Biol Soc. 2013 Jul;2013:6293-6.
Moriyama TS, Polanczyk G, Caye A, Banaschewski T, Brandeis D, Rohde LA.
Evidence-based information on the clinical use of neurofeedback for ADHD.
Neurotherapeutics. 2012 Jul;9(3):588-98.


Chapter Six

HOME Brain-Based
Therapy
WORKBOOK

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
- Dr. Seuss


Understanding FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY
We have a fascination with the brain as mission control of the human body. God created man
and gave him a rather large frontal lobe, differentiating humans from all other species. Many of
us forget that most events in our body, from the vaguest memory to muscle movement, begin
with the brain. The brain is so complex that to discuss it is often overwhelming. It is the
complexity, though, that is key to understanding how different areas of the brain affect different
functions in the body.
This workbook is to accompany your care at our clinic. A brief, ever so simplified review may
aide your understanding of WHY you are being instructed to perform the following exercises.

We use many terms that may be new to the average person. Lesion is one that sounds scary
yet just means there is a problem in a particular area. When we speak of a frontal lobe lesion,
we mean there is a problem with its function. Though many areas of the brain perform more
than one function, here we will look to illustrate the interwoven aspects of the brain and how
many areas can affect movement in everyday life. Equally important, you will learn how brain-
based therapies, such as specific music, metronome timing exercises, visual stimulation, etc.
can retrain the brain and help patients.

BRAIN AREAS PRIMARY FUNCTION SECONDARY
FUNCTION

1. Prefrontal Association
Cortex
Decides what we want to move Focus,
concentration,
planning (a.k.a.
executive
functions)
2. Premotor Cortex Decides how we should move
3. Primary Motor Cortex Sends signals to move muscles, initiating
movement

4. Primary Somatic Sensory
Cortex
Senses muscle and joint movement
(proprioception)
Helps
coordinate the
next muscle
movement
5. Posterior Parietal Cortex Coordinates what we expect the body to feel
with what the skin, muscles and joints
actually feel

6. Primary Visual Cortex Processes what the eye sees
7. Higher-Order Visual Cortex Gives meaning to what we see
8. Parietal-Temporal-Occipital
Association Cortex
Coordinates what the body feels, hears and
sees
Sends
information to
prefrontal
association
cortex (1) to
help plan next
movement and
response to
your
surroundings
9. Auditory Cortex Processes language and sounds that are
heard

10. Limbic Association Cortex Coordinates movements and other senses
(smell, vision, etc.) with how we feel
emotionally
Sends
information to
prefrontal
association
cortex (1) to
help plan next
movement and
response to
your

surroundings.
11. Brainstem Relay highway between brain, cerebellum
and body
Coordinates
eye
movements,
blood pressure,
respiration,
consciousness,
digestion,
bowel and
bladder
function and
much more.
12. Cerebellum Coordinates muscle movements Coordinates
balance,
muscle rhythm
and timing as
well as eye
movements,
neck and back
muscles
Basal Ganglia (not pictured) Processes muscle movement Processes
emotions

The table shows the different areas of the brain, their primary job, and secondary functions.
The numbers on the table match those on Fig. 2, the Brain Association Areas diagram. It is
important to note where the areas are, which areas are neighbors and what each area does.
Some areas cross over in their involvement further establishing the interconnectedness of the
brain. The act of moving a muscle is more complicated than it might seem. Generally, the
process is as follows: Area #1 (Prefrontal Association Cortex) decides what we want to move,
Area #2 (Premotor Cortex) decides how we should move, Area #3 (Primary
Motor Cortex) initiates movement, Area #4 (Primary Somatic Sensory Cortex) senses how the
movement happened. It is not just coincidence that these areas are neighbors and rely on each
other.
What happens when one area starts to malfunction? The neighboring areas act as back-up for
the primary areas. When the brain or body experiences injury, trauma or dysfunction, it tries to
find a new way to accomplish the task. For better or worse, we have the ability to learn to do
things right or to learn to do them wrong. When we learn to do things wrong it can result in a
miss-wiring of the brain. This miss-wiring is now the brains new normal. The goal in brain-
based rehabilitation is to retrain the brain and the body from miswired back to their original
wiring. Brain-based rehabilitation takes time. Just like when one learns a new language or a
new instrument, it takes repetition, patience, time and effort.

If you understand the concept of physical exercise or physical therapy, brain-based physical
rehabilitation is somewhat similar. Instead of focusing only on the body, the doctor must
examine function of all possible brain areas that control body movement. Once we have
determined which neuropathways and brain areas are not working so well, we apply various
exercises and therapies to retrain those brain areas. The goal: as the brain rewires and
strengthens, it can relearn how to control and coordinate brain function. This will in turn
affect overall brain function and may simultaneously address the secondary symptoms so many
patients report.
Here is a chart that lists a few examples of exercises/stimulations that may be utilized for brain-
based physical rehabilitation in a functional neurologists office. Also listed are the primary brain
areas being exercised/stimulated and examples of correlating physical goals.
THERAPIES AREA OF BRAIN
STIMULATED
PHYSICAL GOAL
Metronome Timing Exercises (moving
a finger, hand or foot to a regular beat)
Primary sensory (4)
and motor cortex (3),
prefrontal association
cortex (1),
cerebellum (12)
Improve speed of muscle
movements, decrease
tremors
Auditory/Music Stimulation (specific
for either right or left brain
hemisphere)
Auditory cortex (9) Improve auditory processing,
general right or left
hemisphere stimulation
Vestibular Spinning Chair Exercises Cerebellum (12) Improve balance
Joint Adjustments/Manipulations Primary somatic
sensory cortex (4),
cerebellum (12)
Decrease muscle spasms,
improve feedback from body
to brain (proprioception)
Hemistim
(visual stimulation computer program)
Primary visual cortex
(6), parietal lobe,
frontal lobe (Fig. 1),
cerebellum (12)
Decrease muscle spasms,
improve balance, improve
coordination between eye
movements and reflexive
spinal (especially neck)
muscles


Example: Slow tempo non-vocal music (such as nature sounds) played in the left ear stimulates
the right brain which can improve signals to muscles on the left side of the body. This is
because sounds excite the auditory cortex (#9), then the parietal-temporal-occipital association
cortex (#8) decides what that sound means and sends information to the prefrontal association
cortex (#1) to plan your muscle movement in response to the sound. This example clarifies how
a doctor might use visual (colored light) and auditory (sound) stimulation to help the brain
control muscle movements and decrease muscle spasms.
It is very important to note that these therapies are typically
performed unilaterally, or only on one side of the body. This is
because it is rare that both sides (hemispheres), of the brain, are
malfunctioning with equal severity. In other words, one half of the
brain usually has more miswirings than the other. This is known
as brain hemisphericity.
Consequently, it makes good sense that all therapies must be
specific to the weaker brain hemisphere with a goal of balanced
right/left brain function. This is the brain hemispheric model of care.
The body diagram demonstrates the general connections between
the right and left sides of the body, cerebellum and brain
hemispheres. For example, a stretch, adjustment or exercise using
the left arm will stimulate the left cerebellum and the right brain
hemisphere.
Remember, each patient has different brain miswiring patterns and must be treated specifically
as an individual. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, nor should any treatment be. Each
patients brain and body respond differently to similar therapies. Consequently, therapies need
to be updated regularly to insure optimal outcomes for each individual patient.
Another major difference between physical therapies and brain-based therapies is that brain-
based rehabilitation should never push the nervous system beyond fatigue. There is no
benefit from doing twice the number of exercises prescribed and in some cases, exercising
beyond the point of fatigue can be detrimental.
STOP any prescribed brain therapies IMMEDIATELY should you:
feel dizzy
feel suddenly tired
feel shaky
feel sudden body temperature changes
feel disoriented in any way
feel nauseous
have any other body symptom changes while doing an exercise
The human brain has an amazing ability to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. That
ability to adapt and change (plasticity) gives hope to patients with brain imbalances for it tells us
there is potential to retrain those misfiring pathways Thanks to vast new brain research, we
understand more about brain function than ever before. Because of this, new therapies are

emerging and with them new ways toward symptom relief and restoration of muscle
movements. Thanks to the brains interconnectedness and association areas, there are many
opportunities to evoke a positive change in how our brain moves our body. Brain-based physical
rehabilitation is a serious option for those with neurological difficulties.
The following pages in this workbook section are meant to be used with DOCTOR
PRESCRIPTION ONLY. Do NOT attempt to exceed recommendations or have others in the
family use this as a guideline of any kind.
This HOME BASED program is to complement activities done in the office especially
Neurofeedback based on Functional Neurological testing and Neuromap QEEG testing.


Brain Program
HOMEWORK & EXPECTATIONS
1. Complete all requested labs and return to office (if any).
2. Start completely on the diet that was recommended. You MUST follow
this exactly; NO cheating! With restrictive diets, there is NO such thing as
trying; you are either DOING this or you are not. If you are to expect
optimal benefits from your program, you must follow all recommendations.
3. Start charting your food intake. Use the chart on the next page and write
down everything you eat and drink including the brand and quantity. Be as
specific as possible. Keep this ongoing chart throughout the entire
program. Therefore, you will need to make copies of the food intake chart.
4. Start your daily affirmation (Drs. Conners/Halderman recommend a Bible
verse). You can use whatever is beneficial to you but stating positive truths
about yourself and where you wish to be in the future fires a specific
neurological pathway (the Cortico-Rubro-Cerebellar-Cortico pathway) that
can help change past false beliefs that limit your ability to get well.
5. Start any supplementation that Drs. Conners/Halderman have
recommended.
6. Expect that the diet will be difficult just deal with it! You may even
experience withdrawals if quitting some highly allergenic foods. Just keep
on!
7. Some patients already start feeling better but for most, healing takes
time. Be patient with yourself.
8. Your next visit will include a Neurological Exam and may include specific
Brain-Based Therapies following the results.


Food intake Schedule:
Day:__________________

Bkfast:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Snack_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Lunch:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Snack_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Dinner:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Day:__________________

Bkfast:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Snack_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Lunch:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Snack_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Dinner:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________


Left Brain Training HOME
Follow ONLY the circled/highlighted
exercises:

1. Right Cerebellum Canal Therapy:
A. Right Horizontal Canal = Hold right arm extended in front, thumb up. Fixate on R
thumb and rotate head to right. Eyes are actually going to left firing RIGHT
Horizontal canal
B. Right Anterior Canal = Hold right arm extended in front, thumb up. Fixate eyes on
your Right thumb and rotate head to left and tilt as if you are placing right ear onto
right shoulder, keeping your chin to the left as if pointing left ear to sky while keeping
eyes fixed on thumb. Eyes are actually going up to right
C. Right Posterior Canal = Right thumb up. Rotate head to right and bring back as if
they are placing right ear towards right buttocks. Your eyes are actually moving down
and to the left.

2. SLOW SPIN THERAPY: Sit in a chair that has the capability of spinning all
the way around (a desk chair works well). This is VERY powerful stimulation into the cerebellum
so do NOT play around with this therapy. If you notice ANY of the symptoms listed above in the
section on exceeding metabolic capacity, STOP.
A. Spin at ( turn intervals (stop each quarter turn and count to 5) to your RIGHT (only
do a few rotations!!)
B. ADD a fixation point while you perform the above by holding your LEFT arm out in
front of you with your thumb up. Stare directly at your thumb while slowly rotating. (This
fires off your L brain, R cerebellum)
C. ADD non-linear, complex movement with your right arm/hand by doing the above
PLUS holding your RIGHT arm out in front on you and draw the ABCs in space with
your right hand while rotating to your right, while fixating your eyes on your outstretched
left thumb/arm.


3. USE a VIBRATION plate on your feet. You can purchase a home
vibration platform from Amazon for around $200.
A. You can place BOTH feet on plate to stimulate mid-line cerebellum and give a general
increase in circulation to your feet.
B. You can purposefully stimulate your RIGHT cerebellum by placing ONLY your RIGHT
foot on the plate

4. Do CROSSCRAWL exercises (an exaggerated race-walk):
Humans are contralateral beings in reference to their neurological organization. The
automatic sequencing of upright muscle movement (walking and running) is meant to be
always coordinated the same way. That is the right arm goes forward, the left leg will do
the same and when the left arm goes forward, the right leg will do the same. This is what
is meant by a contralateral (cross pattern) neurological organization.
These are learned processes. They start to be learned by crawling on the ground as an
infant. They are further developed by learning to walk and run, and by various games
that children play. The complex patterns of which are stored in the nerve messaging
patterns of the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum and spinal and peripheral nerves. These
manage the switch on - switch off co-ordination of the muscles of locomotion, posture
and corrective activity to maintain balance.
When you start new exercise patterns, what the nervous system does is it builds new
connections. Nerves are NOT inanimate wires that transfer electrochemical signals.
They are alive and they form new connections.
As you exercise more, you create and grow a stronger series of connections. They
become more active with use. In fact if you don't use nerves, and they don't get a
minimal amount of stimulus, they die. This brings home the old saying "if you don't use it
you lose it". The bit you lose is the nerve that activates the tissue. If the nerve dies off
then the body part connected to that nerve either won't work well or if enough nerves die
off, it won't work at all.
With a cross crawl patterning, we rebuild and reset nerve function. We regain stability.
However, under certain circumstances, usually following some sort of trauma, this
instantaneous contralateral synchronization becomes confused, (right leg forward with
right arm forward). This results in neurological disorganization, which results in poor co-
ordination, balance, liability to subluxate the spine and pelvic joints.
The consequences of this disorganization can be multiple, and may manifest themselves
in four main categories which can be summarized as:
incorrect tone in the muscles of the spine (leading to easy reformation of subluxations)
poor co-ordination of spinal muscles.

allergies (incorrect response to an element or organism that is foreign to the body),
learning disabilities: dyslexia and more (incorrect perception of visual or auditory
information, or incorrect reproduction of that information). Many of these problems
happen on a brain, brain stem, or spinal cord level.
Repatterning Exercise (Cross Crawl)
Cross Crawl Marching is one of the easiest ways to activate your brain and nervous system to
give it the proper motor and sensory stimuli it needs to take control of your bodily functions to
either prevent or to rehabilitate problems. This exercise should only be done to an EARLY
fatigue stage. Meaning that at the first sign that your muscles are tired, stop the exercise. A
"march" is considered to be the raising of one arm and opposite leg. Perform the exercise as
follows:
March in place, lifting an arm and the opposite leg as high as possible TOGETHER. Speed is
not as important as full range of motion. In fact the slower this exercise is performed the greater
the control necessary and the greater the benefits. The more range of motion you achieve, the
more stimulus your brain receives and the greater the incentive the brain has to establish its
new pattern. Again, stop at early signs of fatigue. Ideally, you should perform between 200-500
marches a day. If you manage to do the exercise very slowly, do 200 marches. Otherwise do
the 500. The slower you do this exercise the greater the level of balance and control that you
need to acquire and the greater the benefits to you as you master the exercise.
A. With eyes fixed straight ahead (simply walking in place)
B. While imagining that you are standing on the seashore with the waves striking your
body on the RIGHT, sun shining on your RIGHT body and face. Hear the crashing of the
waves, feel the heat of the sun and smell the ocean!

5. Eyelights a specific brain-based therapy tool purchased in our office done
EXCLUSIVELY as instructed by your Doctor:
a. On the Balance Beam for ________min
b. With Metronome in RIGHT ear, clapping to beat for _________min
c. With pleasant smell in the LEFT nostril for _________min
d. While looking at familiar faces for _________min
e. While Dribbling a basketball with RIGHT hand for _________min
f. Toss and catch ball with RIGHT hand catch ball ON BEAT for _________min
g. While you Sky write and sky draw with RIGHT hand/arm for ___________min


6. Familiar Face Recognition
Activity: Google a picture of celebrities that you would know or open a People Magazine and
ask:
Point to who is:
1. Smiling?
2. Eyes are closed?
3. Tired?
4. Wearing yellow?
5. Balding?
6. Graying?
7. Wearing blue?
8. Wearing a hat?
9. Female?
10. Some who you can only see one ear?
11. Wearing glasses
12. Has a beard?
13. Can see their teeth?
14. Pick 7 people and describe a story of their life

7. Saccades for Cerebellum/Frontal Lobe: (youll need a helper and
a laser pointer for this!)
1. Place a dot on a wall and stand back about 24 inches from the dot
2. Patient should focus (fix eyes) on the dot
3. Helper takes a laser pointer and point at dot and then:
4. Slowly moves the laser light to the left having the patient follow the laser light dot
5. After moving intervals of 6 to 12, helper says, NOW (or quickly turns light off) and then
6. Patient must QUICKLY re-focus (move eyes) back to original dot in the center
7. DO again and again for several minutes

Laser moving L " = L Frontal Lobe is activated (on
saccade back to right), L Parietal Lobe is activated on
pursuit to L, & R Cerebellum is activated (on fixation
back to stop)


8. Measuring Up
Activity:
Draw the following without measuring:
A line two inches long
A line the length of a new standard pencil
A rectangle the size of a standard playing card
A circle the size of a penny
A circle the size of a quarter
A line the length of your foot
A rectangle the size of a regular postage stamp
A circle the size of an electric outlet
A line the length of your toothbrush

9. Hold big letter/small letter card in right field of vision, upper or
lower; name 4 small letters, then one large do ____ sets.
10. Imagine floating up to right corner of room and then back to chair. Do ___
times.
11. Follow eye movement slow to left and fast back to right. Do ___times.
12. Listen to major key or nature sound music in right ear only for ____minutes per
day.
13. Do word searches buy a book on these (_____minutes/day).
14. Look at familiar faces, such as family photographs for ___minutes.
15. Use heat on __________, right side only for ___minutes.
16. Smell pleasant smell, left nostril, for 5 sniffs, 3 times per day.
17. Wear colored glasses that were given, ____minutes/day

18. Slow stretching of right (arm, hand, leg, hip) 2 times per day.
19. Squeeze ball or towel in right hand for ____minute(s).
20. Brainstorming Stimulates Left dorsolateral prefrontal lobe
Activity:
You are taking a bus trip which will continue for three days. The bus is very crowded.
You are seated next to a person (of the opposite sex, same sex, about your age,
older/younger than you, etc.) who has the same destination. This person talks constantly
to you and even pokes your arm if you doze. You have two more days of this.
List as many ideas as you can for ways to deal with this problem. At least 15 ideas
would be a goal. When you think you have finished, press yourself to generate even
more.
Brainstorming 2
Activity:
- What can you do when time after time your friend keeps you waiting?
- What can you do to stop worrying?
- Your children give you a gift that you cant use and yet you dont want to offend
them? What do you do?
- What can you do when someone budges in front of you multiple times while waiting
for rides at the fair?
- Now think of a problem that you have and brainstorm it.


21. Saccades - Downward:
Hold this paper in front of you about 18 inches or tape it to a wall
here Start here at this arrow with your eyes

here

here

here

here

here

Move your focus (eyes)
QUICKLY to the next here
down, then next, (one after
another, STOPPING at each here
for a second) until you reach the
bottom here. SLOWLY move
your eyes back to the top and start
again. Continue for 10 cycles; do
this 3 times per day

22. Saccades - Upward:
Hold this paper in front of you about 18 inches or tape it to a wall
Start here at this arrow with your eyes here

here

here

here

here

here

Move your focus (eyes)
QUICKLY to the next here
down, then next, (one after
another, STOPPING at each here
for a second) until you reach the
bottom here. SLOWLY move
your eyes back to the top and start
again. Continue for 10 cycles; do
this 3 times per day

23. Parietal Pursuits -Stimulates Parietal Lobe to the side you are moving to
Activity:
Therapist/helper stands in front of patient in the CONTRA lateral eyefield
o (if you want to stimulate the LEFT PL, stand to the Patients RIGHT)
Hold 2 fingers up in front of the Patient, about 15 inches away from them, about 24
inches apart. So, one finger should be near the Patients nose and the other off to
the right of the patient. (if stimulating the LEFT Parietal Lobe)
Slowly move the lateral finger towards to medial finger FIRST giving the patient
these instructions:
o -I want you to look at this OUTSIDE finger; Ill be moving it slowly towards the
other finger. Just follow it with your eyes. When we get to this inside finger,
close your eyes and move them back to the outside so we can do it again.
Have the patient looking at your outside finger. Slowly move it towards the other
finger as the patient follows it. Have them close their eyes and look back to the
starting point. Run through about 5-20 of these.

24. Pet Peeves - Stimulates Left Frontal Lobe
- Relevancy of events, scale of importance (DL Lobe)
Activity:
Everyone has pet peeves. Here are some examples: people who smack their gum,
advertising on TV, people who are very loud on the phone.
On a piece of paper list one of your pet peeves.
Now, list all the ideas you can dream up as to how you might reduce this
irritation. Try for at least 20 ideas.
25. Pile It - Stimulates Left frontal lobe (Dorsolateral) note: Pile it is a card game that
you can purchase. You can do this exercise with a regular deck of cards as listed below.
- The motor center of the brain
- What is relevant; sequencing/categorizing; sort things on a scale of importance

Activity: (While timed)
1. Sort cards according to color
2. Sort cards according to shape
3. Sort cards according to number
26. Card Sorting
Activity: Have patient begin sorting the deck, BUT do not tell them how they will be
sorting. Only watch how they sort and if it is not how you decided you wanted them to be
sorted, tell them NO, not that way, and have them begin again and again until they sort
it correctly.
1. 2 stacks, according to color
2. 4 stacks, by suit
3. 3 stacks, numbers 2-5, 6-10, Jack-Ace
4. 2 stacks, cards that start in a vowel or consonant
5. 2 stacks, odds and evens
6. 2 stacks, numbers and face cards
7. 14 stacks, all 2s, all 3s...
27. Verb Generation - Stimulates Left inferior Parietal Lobe, language centers
Activity:
I will read you a noun and Id like you to tell me the first verb that comes to mind when
you hear the noun.
Book Dog Waffle Flower Cup Tent
Box Coffee Bottle Pen Card Shoe
Calculator Lemonade Hat Cat Movie Paper
Picture Hair Ring Seed Floor Almond
Cereal Pillow Sink Bed Phone Button
Tree Cloud TV Desk Chair Plate
Stereo Blanket Sun Globe Fork Towel
Water Apple Tea Rain Garbage Rat

Socks Light Moon Hammer Pretzel Eggs
Tape Door Tooth Foot Fish Hotdog
Marker Shelf
28. We Look, but do We Really See?
Stimulates Left Temporal Lobe - The details of memory (short term
and intermediate)
Activity: We see many things in the course of the day but do we REALLY
see? Ask yourself these questions:
- What color is the upholstery in your car?
- What buildings are to your left as you walk out the door of this clinic?
- Which coin a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter has a building on its reverse side?
- What color are the door knobs in your house?
- How many stop signs/lights do you drive through on your way to work?
- What is hanging on the walls in your bedrooms?
- What did you have for dinner two nights ago?
- How many visible gas stations did you pass on the way here?
- What did you wear yesterday?
- What color is the floor/carpet at your work place?


Right Brain Training HOME
Follow ONLY the circled/highlighted
exercises:

1. Left Cerebellum Canal Therapy:
D. Left Horizontal Canal = Left arm extended in front, thumb up. Fixate on L thumb and
rotate head to Left. Eyes are actually going to right firing LEFT Horizontal canal
E. Left Anterior Canal = Left thumb up. Fixate eyes on Left thumb and rotate head to
right and tilt as if you are placing left ear onto left shoulder, keeping your chin to the
right as if pointing right ear to sky while keeping eyes fixed on thumb. Eyes are
actually going up to left
F. Left Posterior Canal = Left thumb up. Rotate head to Left and bring back as if they
are placing Left ear towards Left buttocks. Eyes are actually moving down and to the
right.

2. SLOW SPIN THERAPY: Sit in a chair that has the capability of spinning all
the way around (a desk chair works well). This is VERY powerful stimulation into the cerebellum
so do NOT play around with this therapy. If you notice ANY of the symptoms listed above in the
section on exceeding metabolic capacity, STOP.
A. Spin at ( turn intervals (stop each quarter turn and count to 5) to your LEFT (only do a few
rotations!!)
B. ADD a fixation point while you perform the above by holding your RIGHT arm out in
front of you with your thumb up. Stare directly at your thumb while slowly rotating. (This
fires off your Right brain, Left cerebellum)
C. ADD non-linear, complex movement with your left arm/hand by doing the above
PLUS holding your LEFT arm out to the side and draw the ABCs in space with your left
hand while rotating to your left, while fixating your eyes on your outstretched right
thumb/arm.


3. USE a VIBRATION plate on your feet. You can purchase a home
vibration platform from Amazon for around $200.
A. You can place BOTH feet on plate to stimulate mid-line cerebellum and give a general
increase in circulation to your feet.
B. You can purposefully stimulate your LEFT cerebellum by placing ONLY your LEFT
foot on the plate

4. Do CROSSCRAWL exercises (an exaggerated race-
walk):
Humans are contralateral beings in reference to their neurological organization. The
automatic sequencing of upright muscle movement (walking and running) is meant to be
always coordinated the same way. That is the right arm goes forward, the left leg will do
the same and when the left arm goes forward, the right leg will do the same. This is what
is meant by a contralateral (cross pattern) neurological organization.
These are learned processes. They start to be learned by crawling on the ground as an
infant. They are further developed by learning to walk and run, and by various games
that children play. The complex patterns of which are stored in the nerve messaging
patterns of the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum and spinal and peripheral nerves. These
manage the switch on - switch off co-ordination of the muscles of locomotion, posture
and corrective activity to maintain balance.
When you start new exercise patterns, what the nervous system does is it builds new
connections. Nerves are NOT inanimate wires that transfer electrochemical signals.
They are alive and they form new connections.
As you exercise more, you create and grow a stronger series of connections. They
become more active with use. In fact if you don't use nerves, and they don't get a
minimal amount of stimulus, they die. This brings home the old saying "if you don't use it
you lose it". The bit you lose is the nerve that activates the tissue. If the nerve dies off
then the body part connected to that nerve either won't work well or if enough nerves die
off, it won't work at all.
With a cross crawl patterning, we rebuild and reset nerve function. We regain stability.
However, under certain circumstances, usually following some sort of trauma, this
instantaneous contralateral synchronization becomes confused, (right leg forward with
right arm forward). This results in neurological disorganization, which results in poor co-
ordination, balance, liability to subluxate the spine and pelvic joints.
The consequences of this disorganization can be multiple, and may manifest themselves
in four main categories which can be summarized as:

incorrect tone in the muscles of the spine (leading to easy reformation of subluxations)
poor co-ordination of spinal muscles.
allergies (incorrect response to an element or organism that is foreign to the body),
learning disabilities: dyslexia and more (incorrect perception of visual or auditory
information, or incorrect reproduction of that information). Many of these problems
happen on a brain, brain stem, or spinal cord level.
Repatterning Exercise (Cross Crawl)
Cross Crawl Marching is one of the easiest ways to activate your brain and nervous system to
give it the proper motor and sensory stimuli it needs to take control of your bodily functions to
either prevent or to rehabilitate problems. This exercise should only be done to an EARLY
fatigue stage. Meaning that at the first sign that your muscles are tired, stop the exercise. A
"march" is considered to be the raising of one arm and opposite leg. Perform the exercise as
follows:
March in place, lifting an arm and the opposite leg as high as possible TOGETHER. Speed is
not as important as full range of motion. In fact the slower this exercise is performed the greater
the control necessary and the greater the benefits. The more range of motion you achieve, the
more stimulus your brain receives and the greater the incentive the brain has to establish its
new pattern. Again, stop at early signs of fatigue. Ideally, you should perform between 200-500
marches a day. If you manage to do the exercise very slowly, do 200 marches. Otherwise do
the 500. The slower you do this exercise the greater the level of balance and control that you
need to acquire and the greater the benefits to you as you master the exercise.
A. With eyes fixed straight ahead (simply walking in place)
B. While imagining that you are standing on the seashore with the waves striking your
body on the RIGHT, sun shining on your RIGHT body and face. Hear the crashing of the
waves, feel the heat of the sun and smell the ocean!

5. Eyelights on (as instructed by Doctor):
h. Balance Beam for ________min
i. With Metronome in LEFT ear, clapping to beat for _________min
j. With pleasant smell in the RIGHT nostril for _________min
k. While looking at UNfamiliar faces for _________min
l. Dribble basketball with LEFT hand for _________min
m. Toss and catch ball with LEFT hand catch ball ON BEAT for _________min
n. Sky write and sky draw with LEFT hand/arm for ___________min


6. UNFamiliar Face Recognition
Activity: Google a picture of a Marathon or some other group of people/FACES that you would
NOT know and ask:
Point to who is:
1. Smlllng?
2. Lyes are closed?
3. 1lred?
4. Wearlng yellow?
3. 8aldlng?
6. Craylng?
7. Wearlng blue?
8. Wearlng a haL?
9. lemale?
10. Some who you can only see one ear?
11. Wearlng glasses
12. Pas a beard?
13. Can see Lhelr LeeLh?
14. lck 7 people and descrlbe a sLory of Lhelr llfe LhaL you MAkL u

7. Saccades for Cerebellum/Frontal Lobe: (youll need a helper and
a laser pointer for this!)
1. Place a dot on a wall and stand back about 24 inches from it
2. Patient should focus (fix eyes) on the dot
3. Helper takes a laser pointer and point at dot and then:
4. Slowly moves the laser light to the RIGHT having the patient follow the laser with their eyes
5. After moving intervals of 6 to 12, helper says, NOW and then
6. Patient QUICKLY re-focuses (move eyes) back to dot (the center)
7. DO again and again for several minutes

Laser moving Right " = Right Frontal Lobe is
activated (on saccade back to left), Right Parietal Lobe
is activated on pursuit to Right, & Left Cerebellum is
activated (on fixation back to stop)


8. Visualize and Pantomime
Stimulates R Parietal Lobe, partly Temporal Lobe if taxing memory
- spatial relationships (R IPL)
- spatial relationships outside of oneself (SMG)
- spatial relationships relative to where YOU are (Angular Gyrus)
Activity:
Opening a jar of pickles and eating every one of them
Being an old-time operator answering the phones
Directing traffic in the middle of Times Square
Building a sand castle
Eating a 5-course French meal
Telling a deaf person how to get to your Grandmas (or somewhere else) house
using only hand and arm signs/signals
Driving a police car on a high speed chase through heavy traffic
Making a sandwich with 11 layers
Shopping at a clothing store and trying on a new wardrobe
Sculpting a piece of art out of clay
Pitching the final inning of game seven in the World Series
Flying a WWII fighter plane in a strategic air battle
Dialing phone numbers of everyone you know. Alternate dialing on a rotary dial
phone. Make up numbers if you need to.

9. Mental Rotation
Activity:
1. On a piece of paper, draw an object like a house, a car, etc.
2. Now draw the same object from above
3. Now draw the same object from a 45 degree angle
4. Now draw the same object from the side
5. Start over with a new object


10. Imagine floating up to left corner of room and then back to chair. Do ___
times.
11. Follow eye movement slow to right and fast back to left. Do ___times.
12. Listen to nature sound music in left ear only for ____minutes per day.
13. Do word searches buy a book on these (_____minutes/day).
14. Look at UNfamiliar faces, such as National Geographic photographs
for ___minutes.
15. Use heat on __________, LEFT side only for ___minutes.
16. Smell UNpleasant smell, right nostril, for 5 sniffs, 3 times per day.
17. Wear colored glasses that were given, ____minutes/day
18. Slow stretching of left (arm, hand, leg, hip) 2 times per day.
19. Squeeze ball or towel in left hand for ____minute(s).
20. Scene Creation from above
Stimulates R Parietal Lobe, partly Temporal Lobe if taxing memory
- Spatial relationships (R IPL)
- Spatial relationships outside of oneself (SMG)
- Spatial relationships relative to where YOU are (Angular Gyrus)
- Primary Sensory Center Where
Activity:
1. Imagine a setting or a scene VIVIDLY (EG: thanksgiving dinner last year)
2. Imagine floating above the scene, face down, looking at everything
3. Describe in detail to therapist/helper


21. Memory Game (Concentration)

Stimulates Right Temporal Lobe
- Start with as few as 4-6 cards
- Gradually work up to the whole deck
22. Round About Game (Card Matching)
- Look at the image you will create for 10-30 seconds
- While timed, begin recreating this image from memory
23. If You Were...
Stimulates Right Parietal Lobe and Right Frontal Lobe
- Spatial relationships that involve me in space (R IPL)
- What is the relevancy regarding actions taking place in your life. Voice of reason.
Activity:
Answer each of these questions, explaining WHY for each one.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
If you were a color, what color would you be?
If you were a musical instrument, which would you be?
If you were a flower, which kind would you be?
If you were able to live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
If you were a holiday, which one would you be?
If you were an article of clothing, what would you be?
If you were a kind of candy, which kind would you be?
If you wrote a book, what would the title be?


24. Floor Plan
- The feelings and meanings of memories
Activity:
From memory, draw a floor plan of your home (or one of the homes) where you lived as
a child, indicating the location of the doors and windows. Sketch the furniture as you
remember it.
Now think about some memorable event that took place in the house. What happened
and what did it feel like? What did the event mean to you?
Draw a floor plan of your workplace. What is the layout, what are the colors on the wall,
where are the doors and windows located, what is hanging on the walls. Try to be as
specific as possible.
Now think of a memorable event that took place here. Was it pleasant or unpleasant?
How did it make you feel?

25. Cognitive Visualizations using Contralateral Arm
For FRONTAL LOBE
-ADD some emotional component
EG: Trace/paint a Biblical scene, a touching family scene, playing a piano symphony
-ADD a reasoning component
EG: Trace/paint a war battle scene, a couple arguing, a political debate
Stimulates All lobes, side depends on limb used
-Dorso-lateral FL Relevance
-Frontal orbital/Frontal Polar FL Voice of reason
-Medial Anterior Cingulate FL Emotional response
R brain = Use LEFT arm/leg
L brain = Use RIGHT arm/leg
Instructions: Imagine drawing/painting/tracing/doing something using your arm or leg
*** Frontal Lobe likes meaningful, complex hand/arm movement involving decisions

26. Cognitive Directions - Detailed description of WHERE
Right brain = Use LEFT arm/leg
Instructions:
1. Give a DETAILED description to someone of WHERE your house is, your
Grandmothers house, your school, etc.
2. Use your LEFT hand/arm to describe draw a map in the air
3. Add feeling, emotion, what things smell like, taste like, sound like
4. INSTRUCTOR: Demand detail, start over
*** Frontal Lobe likes meaningful, complex hand/arm movement involving decisions


Chapter 7

The ULTIMATE Brain-Based Therapy

Do not be conformed to this world (this age),
[fashioned after and adapted to its external,
superficial customs], but be transformed (changed)
by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new
ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove
[for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and
perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and
acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
-Romans 12:2 (Amplified Version)

Everything else in this book speaks of organic causes to brain inflammation and
dysfunction. To ignore the emotional/spiritual component is to ignore the soul and, in my

humble opinion, may ignore the root cause of the disorder for many. Where science
argues over the differences between the mind and the brain, I maintain that there are
pieces of creation beyond our understanding and things that can only be comprehended
through faith.

Ultimate brain-based therapy necessitates a renewal of the mind, not just a change in
the brain. Dead people still have a brain, intact with every organic neuron, glial cell and
neurochemical, yet their soul is absent. Renewing the brain is useless; ask anyone with
a late-stage Alzheimer parent whose body is capable of many more years yet whose
mind is gone, left sadly in a soul-less-like state. There are few things more
heartbreaking. This chapter is about renewing ones mind and I challenge you to read it
fully even if you have different spiritual beliefs. As in everything, you may glean helpful
hints to change your life.

If you think that the following is just an esoteric game think again. What is contained in
this chapter IS the most powerful brain therapy! Neurologically, as mentioned in
previous chapters, there is a complicated pathway that runs from your dorsolateral
prefrontal cortex (DLPC) to the midbrain (Red Nucleus), to the cerebellum (Dentate
Nucleus) and back to the prefrontal cortex. It is the MOST powerful pathway to stimulate
the cerebellum and the prefrontal structures and it involves one thing THOUGHT.

What you think about is powerful. Tens of thousands of books have been written about
self-talk, goals and affirmations from every perspective imaginable. Its the secret of the
ages that is no secret at all. It is simply the way God made us He gave us a cortico-
rubro-dento-cortico pathway that reinforces ANY thoughts into stronger highways.

Let me give you an example. Should I decide (in my DLPC) that the world is a horrible
place and that life is meaningless, my thoughts revolve around such a decision. My
brain fires this pathway described and it becomes paved, over time, into a 2-lane
highway. Pretty soon, I am a depressed person easily able to equate everything in life
through the filter of the paved pathways that say life is horrible. I am literally becoming
a self-fulfilling prophecy.

And it gets worse. As these neural pathways regarding recurrent thought patterns mold
our personality, it affects another part of our brain called the Reticular Activating System
(RAS) that is responsible for alerting (waking) our brain to necessary stimuli. A good
example of this might be the last time you purchased a car (lets say it was a Toyota),
you subsequently notice, over the course of the next few months, all the other Toyotas
driving around. Your brain was occupied about the decision of buying a Toyota so that,
unconsciously, your cortico-rubro-dento-cortico pathway was firing, reinforcing your
decision on such a large purchase and now your RAS takes acute notice of all the
Toyotas you encounter thereby justifying the wonderful decision you made!

Put this understanding into our previous example and the person that once ruminated
on the thought that the world is horrible now only sees the horrible in everything!
People are mean, nobody cares, lifes a bummer, is all this person notices as their
Reticular Activating System simple turns-on the brain to the pathways that have been
paved.

Do you become your thoughts as many self-help books proclaim? Well, maybe not,
because most boys would become girls, but your thoughts are your most powerful ally
or your most dangerous foe! What you think about becomes a pathway more easily
traveled the more you think about it. This is the neural pathway of HABIT. When God
said that sin comes from a debased mind (Rom 1:28) He wasnt being mean; He just
knew the pathway! He also encouraged us by saying that we have a choice to, live
according to the Spirit (then you must purposefully) set your minds on the things of the
Spirit. (Rom 8:5)

Even in the worst situations and the gravest conditions, even if everything in life is flying
out of our control, there is one thing that we CAN control, though it takes conscious
effort our thoughts! We will ONLY, be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
(Rom 12:2) There is NO OTHER WAY!

Three Breakable Barriers

1. Addiction/Control/Co-dependency = trying to find purpose and pleasure from
anything other than Gods designed plan for you.

The emotional aspect of addiction manifests as a drive towards a destructive behavior
that is erroneously supplying a need that can be found in or was already fulfilled with
Gods finished work. In earlier chapters we discussed the neural loops and chemical
drives that make addictions so undeniable, but root, spiritual causes stem from unmet
needs, lingering pain, and heart holes paved with external behaviors. I believe that
brain-based therapy and Neurofeedback is essential for addictions but we must also fill
the spiritual hole.

Those with control issues simply subconsciously believe that exerting power OVER
another brings peace. Power-over individuals simply squash others, many times
thinking they are doing good; they are fixing people. I had a doctor in my office a few
months back who was very ill and was seeing me as a patient. Some of his initial
statement as he entered our busy office was to tell my staff what they should be doing.
He pulled one aside and told her that he would coach her on how to better arrange the
bookcases so the energy was correct. Power-over people have few boundaries when
it comes to exerting opinion and when confronted, everyone else just misunderstood
their intentions. Here are some telltale signs that you have put yourself in power over
another though most with this problem will not be able to recognize it in themselves:
You believe your needs are more important or you deserve to have them met
before others.
You announce what is going to happen rather than negotiate to consider the
needs of others. You dictate your process rather than discuss all ideas.
You give unsolicited advice about things not falling in your area of authority.

You become angry and resentful if someone doesn't follow your advice or do
things in a way you expect.
You blame others when confronted or blame miscommunication in order to
avoid personal responsibility when hurting others.
You view the other as incapable, pitiful, and in need of your rescuing.
You imagine you know what is right for another without asking them.
You think a lot of about what this person or group of people should and shouldn't
do.
There tends to be a trail of injured people behind and around you.

Co-dependency is wanting someone to do for you what you could/should do for
yourself. A codependent relationship includes both a victim-player and a savior-player.
Doctors, especially alternative ones, tend to develop codependent relationships with
patients as they may be the only person that gives needed attention and fulfills unmet
needs. This is the untold goal of all product sales. If Coca Cola can create a
codependent relationship with the consumer, they meet perceived needs and produce
buyers that cannot live without their fix. Pharmaceutical companies thrive on
codependency with ads that promise every desired feeling and apparent want.

Our office purposefully and deliberately attempts to protect both us and the patient from
such relationships. Though cancer patients seemingly need someone to guide and
lead them through a scary and often dark time, it is our role to point them to their ONLY
true hope. I am NOT anyones savior; I am just another person occupying a destiny
designed by the Creator for a specific purpose. I seek His wisdom to heal and depend
on His Spirit flowing through me to accomplish anything. Patients dont need me; once
they flip to needing me, I need to point them back to their Savior.

2. FEAR and JUDGMENT = the basis of mans inherited sin and what keeps us
from experiencing all of Gods blessings.

It is impossible, in the flesh, to live this life and not be tempted to judge every situation,
every circumstance, everyone around us and even ourselves. It is engrained in our flesh
to judge. Worse, we tend to believe that we are walking in wisdom by the way we judge
people and things, when in reality we are doing nothing but creating a world of pain and
conflict. We create the condemnation we wish to expel! The truth is that the majority of
the emotional suffering you now experience is an outcome of your current set of
judgments. Nothing outside of you has the power to hurt you until you place a judgment
on it and this includes others as well as disease, thoughts and emotions. It is the
judgment, the value we assess on anything and everything that brings us pain,
depression and anxiety.

Judgment is the attachment of significance. Judgment is NOT an observation of what
was experienced; judgment is our placement of why. If someone fails to repay a debt
owed to me, the fact that a contract was breached is an observation; my thoughts of
them cheating me, being irresponsible, being crooked, not caring are judgments on
my response to the observation of the facts as to why the deed was done. Making an
assumption of motive is judgment and it now has power in my life based on the
judgment I made.

The same is true when we judge any situation as good or bad. A diagnosis of cancer
should inspire us to seek wisdom but we tend to judge. What have I done to cause
this? Why me? Is God angry at me? Is this a punishment? These and other thoughts
stem out of our need to cast blame; they are judgments as to why instead of an
observation of a fact I have cancer, now what am I going to do about it? Just
because its human nature to judge and blame does not mean that doing so is in our
best interest. It may seem that we throw the responsibility on someone else and even
give us temporary reprieve, but ultimately we are the ones that carry the burden. Oh the
pain that we would eliminate if we would just observe and stop judging!

I place an interesting question on my patient intake form that asks a simply question: Do
you blame anyone for your current problem? Most people read into their possible
answer and leave it blank but the truth is that all of us do, more times than we care to
admit, blame someone for our current conditions. Whether we blame others, God, or
ourselves, blame is a judgment rather than an observation. We can be in real physical
pain and torment, suffer indescribable emotional anxiety and depression, or be dying of
disease all based upon what we judge about present or past situations. Furthermore,
difficult situations are always worsened when we judge the circumstance.

It may be important to define the difference between making right judgments
(observations) and judging. Biblically commanded judgments do not define a reason
why. They are observations that may change our subsequent action but leave the need
to answer why to God. This is especially difficult for people like me who have created a
career of investigating cause. It is my job to find out why a person is sick and then
administer the correct medicine. While this is appropriate in healthcare, it is pathological
in lifes circumstances and relationships. It may be my Biblical responsibility to observe
the doctrinal integrity of whom I choose to listen to, but it is not my job to pass judgment
on someone for their current beliefs.

An example was observed recently. A patient of mine spoke to me about a church that
they were attending and the legalistic manipulation that was taking place. Both she and
her husband wanted to leave but were confronted by the pastor who told them that their
real problem was a spirit of rebellion against authority. He told them that they needed
to submit to the leaders of the church and obey the church doctrines. One aspect that
stood out in our discussion was the pastors demands that everyone spend at least one
hour each day in their prayer closet and witness to one person each day. He insisted
that this was Biblical as it was fulfilling the Great Commission in Matthew 28. The
couple, being fairly new to the faith was confused, asking me if what he said was
correct. The truth of the New Covenant is the freedom that exists in Christ. While it is
true that Jesus commanded us to share His word with the world and it cannot be argued

that personal communion with God is essential for our peace and growth, to manipulate
people into following an agenda is flat out denial of the cross!

When we received the ability to judge good and evil we lost trust in Gods goodness.
When, in our innocence, we simply knew God as good and all He created was
something for our benefit, eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
brought us to question God. We no longer believe God is for our good. God is judging
us and He finds us guilty so we judge Him and find Him untrustworthy. Ask yourself if
you dont think things like this when times are tough: Im getting what I deserve; its my
fault, I should of, could of, ought to! Test yourself on this; do you even have an inkling
of belief that God displays His wrath through tornados, hurricanes, disasters, and the
like? How many of us either thought or verbalized that the 911 disaster was God
punishing America for their sins?

Heres news: God already poured out His wrath for sin on His Son two thousand years
ago! Jesus became sin and took Gods entire wrath, suffering the punishment once for
all. Once you believed, youve been, freed from sin, and youve become slaves of
righteousness. (Romans 6:18) Believing and confessing is acknowledgment of your
changed mind (repentance) about God. Those that are IN Christ are freed from the
wrath of God (Romans 5:9); we are rescued through His blood (1 Thessalonians 1:10),
destined for salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Christ, died for our sins, (1 Corinthians
15:3) and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer

live for themselves, but
for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (1 Corinthians 5:15)

Judgment comes through the Law and brings death. Let it come. Allow it to slay you that
you may be, released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so
that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6) Let
us read and repeat often, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
who is against us?
32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us
all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
33
Who will bring a charge
against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies;
34
who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of
God, who also intercedes for us.
35
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(Romans 8:31-34)

I need to read that again, If God is for us, who is against us? Ill be honest, it is usually
ME. My condemnation of myself and others resuscitates the Law. What was meant to
kill me, revealing the need for a savior and drive me to the cross, has been allowed to
live through my judgments. This should not be! But, to accept that God loves me so
much that He sent His one and only Son to exchange His life for mine and die the death
that I deserved is ludicrous to my human mind. This is why the Apostle John writes,
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children
of God. (1 John 3:1) This Greek phrase interpreted, how great a love should actually
be read, how alien, or as if from another planet as it is altogether alien from what I
know or could find in this world.


Dont forget who you are. You are the child of the Most High God, purchased by an
infinitely great sacrifice and adopted as sons and daughters of the King. Dont turn back
to judgment of the Law like a dog feeding off its own vomit (2 Peter 2:22). Every time we
judge we forsake the righteousness of Christ as foolish, bewitched (Galatians 3:1) souls
attempting to perfect grace in the flesh. It cant be done. Jesus did it ALL. Enter into the
rest that was fully won 2000 years ago to receive the power to live abundantly now.

3. Living under Condemnation = the expectation of judgment. Condemnation is a
heart-sense of bad things to come! impending doom

If there is a secret to success in life, it is an open secret, available for all to know.
Perhaps the most important ingredient to success is how one answers one specific
question. The answer to this question governs ones attitude in both the hills and valleys
of life. It sets ones perception, guides them in decisions and directs their paths. Ive
seen both Christians and non-Christians utilize their answer to both lead them to
unspeakable joy and keep others in unbreakable despair. Our answer to this one
question determines the boundaries which we live by, how big we can be and all that we
can accomplish. It isnt spiritual per-say and doesnt require a belief in Jesus. Ones
answer therefore, does not determine eternal destiny so this question may be qualified
as the second most important question one must answer themselves, the first and most
important question one must confront is, What am I going to do about Jesus Christ?
However, our answer to the question below helps form the answer we will have about
what to think about Jesus:

Do you believe that God LIKES you, is the giver of only GOOD to you and
desires only your GOOD?

The religious person believes theyve dealt with the most important question in life,
given their heart to Christ, and yet lives under the belief that God, though He may LOVE
them (since Hes supposed to do that seeing that Hes God and all), He doesnt actually
LIKE them. Either consciously or unconsciously, they believe that God is always mad at
them. They strive to accommodate God, His demands and qualifications. To the
religious person, God is love, but Hes angry at me. He expects more from me and
meeting His needs to receive an eternal at-a-boy is exhausting. How can this be?

Religion asks, Does He want my good? Well sure, they think, but not too good. If
good things come to them they are usually balanced with a humbling event because,
after all, God doesnt want us to get conceited. The religious person believes that they
deserve punishment and abasement and God is usually upset with them. They read of
Gods love and that He calls believers His child but then qualify His love based on their
performance. God may love them because He has to; its part of His job of being God.
But really, God doesnt LIKE them. To read this in the first person is important because I
think that most of us find ourselves in the religious person category a great deal of
time.


Lets contrast this life view with one who believes that God not only loves them but
LIKES them. God only wants my good and even when difficult times come, they are but
stepping stones, blessings to discover, or hurdles to strengthen me. There are no good
or bad things in my life, it is all joy, and everything is a gift. God is my father but He is a
good father; He invites me to snuggle up on His lap and tell me He loves me and that I
am His favorite little guy in the whole wide world. He whispers sweet things in my ear
and tickles my belly. He tells me of things He has in store for me and how Hes planned
this day as a special day with all sorts of fun challenges and treats.

There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
-Romans 8:1

Words on which to Meditate

Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives
to his beloved is that of overcoming self. Francis of Assisi

Im sure Francis of Assisi was speaking of the old self or the flesh that is so difficult to
overcome, that which is engrained in judgments and condemnations from Edens
inheritance. Maybe the thoughts, desires, lusts, and greed of my flesh are so difficult to
put to death because we dont know what God says about the new, regenerate I that
weve become and are in the process of becoming as truly saved believers. Who am I,
is an appropriate question. A better question may be, who does God say that I am?
Read the following to yourself aloud:

I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10).
I am complete, no addition needed, no mixture with rules or religion, no sprinkle of
philosophy or pinch of law. IN Jesus Christ, I am alive, (Ephesians 2:5), I am free
from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Though my old self may reminisce in stray
imagination I must, put off the old man and put on the new man, which is renewed in
the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me. (Colossians 3:9-10)

When the enemy whispers lies to me that in my past I once believed I remind him that,
I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the
world (1 John 4:4). The world may oppress me but, I can quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16), and when it tells me it has
victory, I know that, I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans
8:37).

Though I sin, I repent and know that, I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the
Blood (Ephesians 1:7). God sees Jesus when He looks at me for, I have received the
gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). For I

know that, I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter
1:16), and, I am Gods child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word
of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).
To meditate on the fact that HE chose me, even before He created the foundations of
the earth is mind-blowing. He has given me, the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16;
Philippians 2:5), and, the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians
4:7). Just say this aloud, I am Gods workmanship, created in Christ unto good works
(Ephesians 2:10), for, I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), I am a spirit
being made alive to God (Romans 6:11;1 Thessalonians 5:23), I am a believer, and the
light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4), I am a doer of the Word and
blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25).

Think about it! God says that, I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17), I am more
than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37), I am far from oppression,
and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14), I am born of God, and the evil one does
not touch me (1 John 5:18).

The more ignorant I am of what God is telling me regarding WHO I AM when I am IN
Christ, the more difficult it is to overcome the world. I must recite these Biblical
affirmations over and over, take time to dwell on these truths and cast them as blessing
over my household. For, I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-
18).

Never must I speak negatively, cursing even in jest. God was not glib when He said
that, I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them
recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17-18; Luke
10:17-19). When I believe and obey His truth that I am truly a new creature, I have
given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38). I have no lack for my God supplies
all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

No matter the difficulties I face, I know that, I am an overcomer by the blood of the
Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11), I am a partaker of His divine
nature (2 Peter 1:3-4), I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13), and I
am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

In myself, I have no power, I declare myself dead, slain by the law and now resurrected
by the blood, I show forth the praises of God Who has called me out of darkness into
His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (1
Corinthians 6:19). I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath
(Deuteronomy 28:13). I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering
(Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12). I am delivered from the power of darkness and
translated into Gods kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68;
Galatians 3:13), firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with

gratitude (Colossians 2:7). I speak boldly because, I am called of God to be the voice
of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).

I will NEVER give up and never give in for I know that, I am healed by the stripes of
Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24), I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly
places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12), I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7;
Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4), and I am strengthened with all
might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).

Victory over my flesh, this world and the enemy is secure and complete when, I am
submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of
Jesus (James 4:7). For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a
sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). For this reason, I press on toward the goal to win the prize
to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14).

Dear Lord, may I always keep firmly at the forefront of my mind the unshakeable,
unchangeable fact that, It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

Daily Practice
Biblical Truths to Practice Believing. We are called to put off the old self and put on
Christ (Ephesians 4:22-23) which means to literally remove false beliefs we have of
ourselves, others and God and be brainwashed in the truth of who God says we are and
who He says that He is. Below are some verses to read daily. Meditate on them. Let the
truth hit you hard for you are a prized possession of the Most High King.
Nothing you could ever do or have ever done could make God love you any more or
any less than He already does. He chose you before the foundations of the earth were
set to be His son/daughter and you are perfect in His sight. Crawl up on His lap and
recite these verses to yourself constantly. Imagine Him stroking your hair and
whispering, I love you my precious child, in your ear.
Who I Am In Christ AFFIRMATIONS:
I AM GODS!
) Possession! I am His and that can never change. - Genesis 17:8/ 1Cor 6:20
) Child. Nothing I ever do or dont do will change this fact! - John 1:12
) Workmanship. He molds and shapes me to the image of His Son! - Ephesians 2:10
) Friend. HE chooses to call me friend. - James 2:23
) Temple. HE dwells inside me through His Holy Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 3:16/ 6:16

) Vessel. Though cracked and broken, the contents in me are precious. - 2 Timothy 2:2
) Co-laborer. I work not to please God but to know Him more deeply and to learn how to REST
in Him - 1 Timothy 5:18
) Witness. As I simply allow His Spirit to shine through me, not by my works but by yielding to
Him. - Acts 1:8
) Soldier. I submit to His authority. - 2 Timothy 2:3
) Ambassador. I am a co-bearer of God on earth. - 2 Corinthians 5:20
) Building. I am His personal creation that He planned before He even created the earth. - 1
Corinthians 3:9
) Husbandry. (His valued possession) - 1 Corinthians 3:9
) Minister/instrument. Acts 26:16 / 1 Timothy 4:6
) Chosen. He picked me because He LIKES me. - Ephesians 1:4
) Beloved. I intimately cuddle with my Daddy. - Romans 1:7/ 2 Thessalonians 2:13
) Precious jewel. He tells me this every day. - Malachi 3:17
) Heritage. I am His namesake whom He is so proud of. - 1 Peter 5:3
I HAVE BEEN!
) Redeemed by the blood. It is NOT by my good deeds that makes Him love me more nor can
the bad things Ive done make Him love me any less. It is impossible for Him to do either
because He MADE me His child because of what HE already did through His Son. Its a done
deal!!! - Revelation 5:9
) Set free from sin /condemnation. Because of Him I expect ONLY GOOD in my life today. I no
longer condemn myself or am condemned by others. Impending doom has ALL disappeared.
Only goodness and mercy awaits me every morning and they are new each day!!! - Romans
8:1-2
) Set free from Satans control. The ONLY power over me is my own choices now and I choose
FREEDOM in Christ with ALL the rewards of EVERY promise! - Colossians 1:13
) Chosen before foundation of world. I am hand-picked to be on the winning team. - Ephesians
1:4
) Predestined to be like Jesus. God sees ONLY Jesus when He looks at me. I am white as
snow and pure in His eyes. He smiles at me. - Ephesians 1:11
) Forgiven of all my trespasses. What Jesus did 2000 years ago was done once and for all. He
paid the price for me. I simply believe and receive the free gift. Thanks you! - Colossians 2:13

) Washed in the blood of the Lamb. I am cleansed. Let me learn to rest in Him and be filled with
His Spirit so I may reveal the fruits to everyone I meet. - Revelation 1:5
) Given a sound mind. I claim this for peace in difficult times. - 2 Timothy 1:7
) Given the Holy Spirit. I quiet my mind and emotions to simply find comfort in the fact that God
placed His Spirit inside of me. - 2 Corinthians 1:22
) Adopted into Gods family. Natural babies enter into a family and parents dont get to send
them back but adopted children were chosen, knowing the faults and weaknesses. God picked
me while I was still a sinner, dirty and an enemy of His. He STILL picked me because His love
for me exceeded my sins against Him. - Romans 8:15
) Justified freely by his grace. I have been made just, forgiven, purified, and given mercy
because thats just who God IS. It had nothing inherently to do with me, it was a free gift. My
right-standing before God is all because of what HE has done and needs only my acceptance. -
Romans 3:24
) Given all things pertaining to life. Religion strives after God; God says, Stop, Im already here
and have already made a way. - 2 Peter 1:3
) Given great and precious promises. ALL the promises of God are YES in Jesus for me! - 2
Peter 1:4
) Given ministry of reconciliation. I can only give what I have to give. To the degree that I receive
Gods mercies (new and available every day for me) is the proportion that I can give them to
others. - 2 Corinthians 1:22
) Authority over the power of enemy. There is NO more fear of ANY enemy!!! - Luke 10:19
) Access to God. I now freely come before His throne knowing all I ask in His name is already
mine in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 3:12
) Been given wisdom. This is what we are to FIRST ask for in every seemingly troubled time. He
freely gives me wisdom and I NEVER doubt for I am a single-minded man and stable in all my
ways! -Ephesians 1:8, James
I AM!
) Complete in him. There is nothing I add but my surrender to Him. - Colossians 2:10
) Free forever from sins power. Though I mess-up and choose wrong paths often, forgivness
has already been granted and His mercy is new again today. - Romans 6:14
) Sanctified. He daily changes me, teaches me, and reminds me that He is good and wants only
my best. -1 Corinthians 6:11
) For the Masters use. He plans my ways and ordains my day. I quietly listen to His leading and
learn to obey His quiet whispers. - 2 Timothy 2:21

) Loved eternally. Nothing could ever separate me from His love! - 1 Peter 1:5 /
) Eternally kept in the palm of his hand. - John 10:29
) Kept from falling. He always provides safe passage through any storm. - Jude 1:24
) Kept by the power of God. His strength is always at my disposal. - 1 Peter 1:5
) Not condemned. Today brings more blessings. Though often disguised as struggles, God
turns all things, even problems, to good for me. - Romans 8:1-2
) One with the Lord. I am bound, chained, sealed and tattooed with His personal guarantee! - 1
Corinthians 6:17
) On my way to heaven. I am always looking at everything with an eternal perspective. - John
14:6
) Quickened by his mighty power. My ears are tuned to His calling. - Ephesians 2:1
) Seated in heavenly places. Even when my day seems so hard, I am keep focusing on facts.
Facts like: the spiritual realm is more real than the physical; the victory over this situation has
already been established; and healing is already mine in my spirit all comfort me. - Ephesians
1:3
) The head and not the tail. God has set me in high places not because of my holiness but
because of His. - Deuteronomy 28:13
) Light in the darkness. I lay down my rights, my will, and my flesh to let the Spirit shine through
me. His light is the brightest in the darkest of times. - Matthew 5:14
) Candle in a dark place. Candles have the unique ability to light others candles. This I choose
to do be a light to others! - Matthew 5:15
) City set on a hill. His love can no longer be hidden in me; I make it evident to all. I have perfect
peace where there is no peace, love where it is not deserved, patience where it is not earned,
joy through sadness, kindness to the grumpy, and show Gods goodness in perfect self-control.
- Matthew 5:14, Galatians
) Salt of the earth. Salt preserves; it protects and keeps fresh. I am the salt to all I meet. -
Matthew 5:13
) His sheep. Sheep are valuable commodities. I am the sign of Gods riches. - Psalms 23 /
Psalms 100:3/ John 10:14
) A citizen of heaven. I have the rights of full citizenship in Heaven with all its rights and rewards.
- 1 Peter 2:11
) Hidden with Christ in God. The ease of life is found when I am fully yoked with Him. He then
carries my burdens. - Psalms 32:7

) Protected from the evil one. No troubles will again overtake me; victory is always secure. - 1
John 5:18
) Kept by the power of God. It is HIS might and strength in which I depend. I hold His hand and
He gives me victory. - 1 Peter 1:5
) Secure in Christ. There is surety in Him; I am safe. He will never let me go! - John 10:28-29
) Set on a Rock. My foundation is solid; I can stand tall; I am immovable and unshakable. -
Psalms 40:2
) More-than-a-conqueror. Im not just an overcomer, Im victorious. All that I put my hand to is
successful. - Romans 8:37
) Born again. I am made completely new. This was not just an event in my past but a present
reality. His mercies are fresh for the taking every day. - 1 Peter 1:23
) A victor. I share the spoils of victory every joy, abundance, and supply that Ill ever need and
always given more than enough! - 1 John 5:4
) Healed by his strips. Jesus died for my healing; its a done-deal. Though we all will die, my
spirit is completely healed and I choose to walk as and live like a healed, healthy and whole
person right now! - Isaiah 53:6
) Covered by blood of Jesus. What God did needs no addition and cannot be improved upon.
Every area of my life, my deeds and thoughts are covered by the redemptive power of Christ. -
Revelation 12:11, 1 Peter 1:19
) Sheltered under his wing. He is my protector; He stands in front of me in a battle and carries
me when I tire. - Psalms 91:4
) Hidden in secret place of the Almighty. I now labor only to enter into His rest. - Psalms 91:1
I HAVE!
) Access to the Father. Daily I come before Him to receive His grace. - Romans 5:2
) A home in heaven waiting for me. I will be completely perfected. - John 14:1-2
) All things in Christ. All His promises are yes. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
) A living hope. Gods hope never fails and never disappoints. - 1 Peter 1:3
) An anchor to my soul. His anchor holds me back from running off into trouble, trying to please
Him doing some religious thing, and falling into my own foolishness. - Hebrews 6:19
) A hope that is sure and steadfast. He never fails! - Hebrews 6:19
) Authority to tread on serpents. Though I go through seasons of trouble - Nothing in this world
will have victory over me. - Luke 10:19

) Power to witness. My life will be my greatest witness. - Acts 1:8
) The tongue of the learned. I rely on and freely receive Gods wisdom. - Isaiah 50:4
) The mind of Christ. I am daily, more-greatly perfected. 1 Corinthians 2:16
) Peace with God. He LIKES me, is NEVER mad at me, always takes joy in me and even when I
sin He gently beckons me home. - Romans 5:1
) Faith as a grain of mustard seed is more than enough to trust God in everything! - Luke 17:6

I CAN!
) Do all things through Christ. He IS my strength. - Philippians 4:13
) Find mercy and grace to help in all situations. - Hebrews 4:16
) Come boldly to the throne of grace. I can bring every request for He is MY daddy! - Hebrews
4:16
) Quench all the fiery darts of every days problems. - Ephesians 6:16
) Declare liberty to captives. I am FREE from the Law that did its work in me. It drove me to the
undeniable need for a merciful Savior. Isaiah 61:1
) Pray always and everywhere. Prayer is talking to God and I quiet my mind to listen to Him.
Like all His sheep, I hear His voice. - Luke 21:36
I CANNOT!
) Be separated from Gods love. It is impossible for Him to love me either more or less; His love
never fails! - Romans 8:35-39
) Perish or be lost. He is my everlasting fortress. I am adopted into His family and am now a full
child with all the inheritances that belong to Christ. - John 10:28, John 3:16
) Be taken out of my Fathers hand. Nothing, in this world or the next, can pluck me from my
Fathers hand. - John 10:29
) Be charged or accused. There is NO more condemnation for me. When I feel doubt or
impending doom I now say, This no longer serves me or has power over me, for there is now
therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ! - Romans 8:33, 1 Corinthians 11:32



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Berk, L. (1994). Infants and children: Prenatal through early childhood. Boston,
MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Carnegie Corporation of New York. (1994). Starting points for young children.
New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Jabs, C. (1996, November). Your babys brainpower. Working Mother, 19, 24-28.
Nash, J. (1997, February 3). Fertile minds. Time, 149, 48-56.
Alivisatos, A. P. et al. Science 339, 12841285 (2013).
Kettenmann, H. & Ransom, B. R. (eds) Neuroglia 3rd edn (Oxford Univ. Press,
2013).
Fields, R. D. The Other Brain (Simon & Schuster, 2009).
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Schafer, D. P. et al. Neuron 74, 691705 (2012).
Fields, R. D. et al. The Neuroscientist.
The Role of the *-3 Fatty Acid DHA in the Human Life Cycle, Sarah J. Carlson,
MD, MSc, Erica M. Fallon, MD, Brian T. Kalish, Kathleen M. Gura, Mark Puder,
MD, JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr January 2013 vol. 37 no. 1 15-22
Chronic prenatal exposure to the 900 megahertz electromagnetic field induces
pyramidal cell loss in the hippocampus of newborn rats, O Bas, Department of
Anatomy, Rize University School of Medicine, Rize, Turkey
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and
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Bailey BA, et al. Pregnancy and alcohol use: Evidence and recommendations for
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Wake, H. Lee, P. R. & Fields, R. D. Science 333, 16471651 (2011).
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Zatorre, R., Fields, R. D. & Johansen-Berg, H. Nature Neurosci. 15, 528536
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Han, X. et al. Cell Stem Cell 12, 342353 (2013).
Neuroscience: Solving the brain 17 July 2013
The benefits of brain mapping 17 July 2013
Whole human brain mapped in 3D 20 June 2013
Behind the scenes of a brain-mapping moon shot 06 March 2013
Was Hitler right to invade Russia in 1941? by Andrew Wright
Limbic abnormalities in affective processing by criminal psychopaths as revealed
by functional magnetic resonance imaging, Biological Psychiatry, Volume 50,
Issue 9, 1 November 2001, Pages 677684

Abnormalities in emotion processing within cortical and subcortical regions in
criminal psychopaths: evidence from a functional magnetic resonance imaging
study using pictures with emotional content, Biological Psychiatry, Volume 54,
Issue 2, 15 July 2003, Pages 152162
Our brains shrinking, The Courier-Mail, 7 February 2011, p. 21.
Santini, J., Are brains shrinking to make us smarter?, The Sydney Morning
Herald, news.smh.com.au, 6 February 2011. Return to text.
E.g. Milford Wolpoff, also at the University of Michigan.
Woodmorappe, J., How different is the cranial-vault thickness of Homo erectus
from modern man? J. Creation 14(1):1013, 2000; creation.com/cranium.
Probiotics treatment improves diabetes-induced impairment of synaptic activity
and cognitive function: Behavioral and electrophysiological proofs for
microbiomegutbrain axis, S. Davaria, S.A. Talaeib, H. Alaeia, M. salami
Neurofeedback helps relieve chemo brain symptoms, Cleveland researcher
finds, Angela Townsend, The Plain Dealer, April 22, 2013
Neuroplasticity: Your Brains Amazing Ability to Form New Habits, Mike Torres
http://www.refocuser.com/2009/05/neuroplasticity-your-brains-amazing-ability-to-
form-new-habits/#sthash.eAKpD70N.dpuf
The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force
Paperback, by Jeffrey M. Schwartz (Author) , Sharon Begley
The Neuroscience of Observing Consciousness & Mirror Neurons in Therapeutic
Hypnosis, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Volume 48, Issue 4, 2006
Gluten Sensitivity and the Impact on the Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter, MD
Cytokines, inflammation, and brain injury: role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha,
Cerebrovasc Brain Metab Rev. 1994 Winter;6(4):341-60.
Consequences of Repeated Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Football Players,
Nicola Marchi equal contributor, Jeffrey J. Bazarian equal contributor, Vikram
Puvenna, Mattia Janigro, Chaitali Ghosh, Jianhui Zhong, Tong Zhu, Eric
Blackman, Desiree Stewart, Jasmina Ellis, Robert Butler, Damir Janigro

Further Research:
Doing Neurofeedback, A Condensed and Comprehensive Guide to the Practice of NFB
Dr. Richard Soutar, PhD
Published by the author, updated 2007

Getting Started with Neurofeedback
(an introduction to theory and practice useful reference for clinical approaches) John N.
Demos
Norton (2005)

Awakening the Mind A Guide to Mastering the Power of Your Brain Waves
(hands-on tips for self-mastery; useful meditations and imagery for use with patients) Anna Wise
Tarcher-Penguin (2002)


A Symphony in the Brain The Evolution of The New Brain Wave Biofeedback (must have
to understand history of the development of NFB; part of the story) Jim Robbins
Grove Press (2000)

A Guide to Neurofeedback
(great reference handbook-excellent neuroanatomy diagrams, clinical applications) Thompson
& Thompson
Published by The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2003)

Handbook of Neurofeedback Dynamics and Clinical Applications
(theoretical, but excellent resource with cited references) James R.
Evans, PhD
Haworth Medical Press (2007)

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger and
Impulsiveness
Daniel G. Amen, MD
Three Rivers Press, NY (2004)

Power Up Your Brain
(Dr. Perlmutter is a solid reference for nutritional concerns; discusses the spiritual side of brain
fitness)
The NeuroScience of Enlightenment
Dr. David Perlmutter & Alberto Villoldo
Hay House (2011)

www.UpperRoomWellness.com

651.739.1248

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